How AC works

With this post I'm asking Associated Content writers for their opinion and advice.

Lately I've been reading quite a few posts in this(bhw doesn't have a ) and other forums about AC and how people are earning anywhere from 300$-500$ a month with them. There are a few things I don't understand so, correct me if I'm wrong:

There is a PPM system that pays 1.5$ for 1000 page views. In addition to the 1.5$ performance payment, writers can earn a bonus depending on their clout level. Once your clout level exceeds a level 6 you earn an additional bonus, depending on the clout level. The clout level maxes out at $2.00. There is an upfront payment for your article(this is what you get for the giving the rights of publishing your article to AC) that ranges from 3-20$. Only US residents are eligible for this but you can subscribe as an US resident and still get paid as payments are made via PayPal and nobody checks your identity.

I understand that Associated Content offers added bonuses in Calls for Content. Anyhow I don't really understand the process.

Some say that AC content is not worth the time spent and that there are other sites like suite 101 or helium that pay better. Is this true?

It's true that the time taken to write/rewite articles isn't always worth the $2-$5 you get for it, but if you need some change to buy a new domain or something it's great.

Writing for AC is like having a job which pays half the minimum wage

shit i thought this thread was about how an air condition unit work...boooo!

Associated Content is not for me because my grammer and framing of sentences is too bad they say... ... When I found AC I thought that now I can start making some money online.... But it was my mistake...

I found associated content to be very time consuming and it can't really be automated. I think it can be outsourced in which case it would be profitable. Basically you have someone else write articles for you really cheap and you submit them to ac for payment.