Let me attempt an analogy.
My mother gave me a Kindle for Christmas. She did so because
she thought I would enjoy it. It required that I create an account
with Amazon and purchase e-books from them. Nice gift. Thanks, mom.
Now suppose Amazon had given me the Kindle. They would be doing so
IN ORDER that I create an account and purchase e-books from them.
Thus the distinction.
I understand your distinction, I just think it’s a distinction without a difference.
From my point of view, in the end, you still got a free Kindle, which you thought was a nice gift.
In the end, you still make your own choice whether to create an account with Amazon and order 1 or one million books from them.
To me, it’s all still good.
I just don’t agree that the MOTIVE of the poster, whatever it is or may be assumed to be, has anything relevance whatsoever to whether or not the post is a “nice gift” (to use your analogy) to FR.
If it’s not a “nice gift,” whether it was given by “Mom” or “Amazon,” doesn’t matter: it’s still spam or some kind of garbage that either needs to be zotted or allowed to die its natural death.
If it is a “nice gift,” doesn’t matter to me who gave it or whether they make something off it in the future because of my VOLUNTARY CHOICE to buy books, click on the link, etc.
Hey, what if Mom, an Amazon affiliate, bought your Kindle through her website and not only made a commission off it, but will make money off any books you may buy in the future? (Not how it works, but just making an analogy here.) :) I just don’t see a prob with that.
It’s still a nice gift and I’m still in control of how much, or if, I use it.