Most of those so called projects, are just Ponzi schemes, or  just ideas floating in the air. The real business must make money, must have a great management teams. So when business is viable, and making money day to day, month to month. Then for expansion purposes it can arrange some "referral" systems which will catalyse expansion, and will work more like franchise. Where each person have a chance to invite people to join that particular business, and then become a customer which brings money. Other wise calling 1000 friends to join, and none of them is "paying customer" is not doing any good for the company either. Except expansion in members, and potential customers. So these potential customers one day may start paying or will invite other people who will be paying customers. 
That rule work in any given business in real world. That is how money flows too.... from the bottom to the top! 

Good luck with you research. Take what you experienced as your learning process and just be patient, keep learning.

The gift of giving is a true gift. I'm lad to see it's part of what you do Steve!

I developed a system called couch potato cash. I use it in conjunction with frugality and freebies. If you want, check it out at http://cheapogroovo.typepad.com/blog/2015/08/couch-potato-cash.html

/me registers himself as a charity and shakes his tin at @steevc

Enough small beer will eventually get you drunk.   Having said that,  these passive income kinds of things never really seem to work for me because making a few cents a month like this isn't really worth it when I can just stay for a few minutes extra every day at my job and make more than a few extra dollars. However,  I do understand that these types of things can be helpful for people that need a few extra cents and like to use things like faucets.

Easy money does not happen, that to earn it is necessary to try.

I have tried many different avenues to generate income online none are really worth the time but Steemit has proven to be the best one so far @steevc

well that got a good upvote from me.. this is packed with options..and as usual, you are a kind soul and giving to charity.  some people do build on these but I agree who has time anyway?

Yes @steevc, at one time I also tried to work on some projects with referrals, but it did not work, it's better here!

its new look as cryptocurrency.

I stumbled upon wow app on a small kindle ebook. Of course, I wasted time for a week or so!
When I came across Steem, I initially thought it's like Wow app :
my referee in Steem made just a few cents from each post.
Then when I joined Steem and had my first steem chat, someone aid, " You need to be a beautiful girl or pump in $100,000 to make some  money here; otherwise no chance!"
Now, I am sure with my understanding of Steem from personal experience- wow app is an ant in comparison to the 'Steemit elephant.'
It's like fire- used in the right way can change lives for the better!
Long live Steem!!

i have had great success in the thousands with residual income from skillshare and udemy. it takes some initial work and then basically i get cut two cheques which i get each months at the beginning and the middle of the months. i also get adsense each month from youtube on my banners on my many websites. it all adds up. next i''ll look at amazon and we are just getting together our teeshirt store which will have steemit tops on as well at http://beeb.ee - bottom line, extra income is possible with work! like anything in life put the work in get the rewards.