With Rapidshare, if you're are free member, you can get a premium membership for one month, when you reach 10000 "rapidpoints". One point is like one download of any of your hosted files. It's worth $ 6.99.
I think there is a difference if you can get cash directly for download hits, or if you get points that can be converted later, to advantages that are worth money. Getting "money" out of downloads is just part of the business.
Things should be sorted out, site by site. There was a discussion before, but I still don't understand what's wrong with getting $$$ from people clicking links.
What should stay forbidden is redirect links, they don't host anything, only take advantage of the whole system.