no dumbnut, it comes completely out of the networks pocket.
This question is idiotic for 2 reasons:
1. People know the exact pay per lead, and if they multiple it by the number of leads they can figure out exactly how much they should be paid. If you scrape 2% off that, the person would notice...
2. People would specifically make sure that they weren't referred (if it were to come out of their pocket), and it would kill the methodology of referrals in the first place.
Hate to break it to you but that's how the majority of affiliate referral programs operate. I can't speak to Neverblue's program specifically but I would guess they aren't any different.