The thing is there are some great affiliate sites that add value to the web. However, TONS of affiliates just SPAM the engines with black hat
SEO techniques, crappy pages, tricks for clicks schemes and stuff that really does clog up the engines and make the industry look bad. Just like the affiliate email spammers clog up our inboxes with Viagr@, PEEnis enlargement and Rolex affiliate spam - it all goes toward helping to devalue affiliate marketing in the eyes of the online marketing industry.
Just like email spammers ruined email marketing for honest marketing companies - SE affiliate spammers could make it tougher for honest marketing sites to get rankings.
Everyone knows I am an affiliate advocate and will stand up for affiliates whenever I can - but GOOD HONEST affiliate marketing tactics is the only thing I can support. The industry DOES need to be cleaned up and if people don't start self-regulating then we aren't going to like what happens when others, like Google start regulating FOR us!