Do you have to be a guru?

On a certain niche in order to run a successful affiliate website?

No. You need to know at least a little bit. But on the internet, a good webmaster will beat a good guru in most cases.

Absolutely.

If you are not running monthly income reports on some sort of wordpress blog, you are a fucking noob.

No not really, you just need to know few things and the rest you will learn along the way!

You might not need to be a guru but wearing those sandals that have recycled tire treads for the sole and rocking hair like Jesus does help with affiliate sales conversion rates as well as picking the best converting products in your niche in the first place.

Without the sarcasm: No. Just read, ask questions, spy on what competitors are doing and try things and learn what works and what is a waste of time. You'll get it figured out.