IMO they are predatory no matter what.
However, if the terms were in place when the aff signed up, they are not retrocative and the program has a right to enforce them.
Affs need to read terms and decide whether they want to join or not based on that. If you join a program that has predatory terms in place, it is your responsibility.
If the program changes the terms after you joined, that is retroactive and did not give you a chance to opt out. This happened to me with Casino Coins, and that remains an unresolved issue at this date. This is now breach of contract.
Natalie has a point re. reactivation of dormant players. However, in that case there would have to be accounting concerning which players were dormant and which were not, and this needs to be in the T&Cs when affs sign up.
This is a choice affiliates and programs have to make. If a program wants to have predatory terms, that’s their right. It’s the affiliate’s right to pick and choose among the many available programs and obtain terms that suit him/her.
Changing the rules after an affiliate joins is illegal. It is breach of contract.