Online Shoppers - Do You Buy Through Affiliate Sites?

I've been doing this for a while and wondered if anyone else was doing the same...

When I'm going to buy something online, and doing research (and I buy a lot of stuff online) I make it a habit to do a regular, old Google search for "Product Name Review" and see what comes up.

Of course, the SERPs usually present me with more affiliate review sites than i can shake a stick at. And that's fine. I like to see what other online marketer are up to.

But more importantly, I try to purchase through these sites, as long as the affiliate marketer did a good job with their site and provided some real value in their review.

A site doesn't have to be perfect (God knows mine aren't) but if I find an affiliate review site that has good information and doesn't just copy/paste from the sales page, then I tend to click on thru and make a purchase.

My reasoning for doing this?

First, I figure that the person who built the site put in their due diligence and made a helpful site that provides good information.

Second, I think (even if it's not true) that maybe, just maybe, this site was put up by someone who has not made a single dollar online. I know how excited I got when I made my first sale, and I know that one sale was the catalyst that kept me going through months without making a dime, while I learned the ropes and got better.

Third, I know that there's talk of Amazon doing away with their affiliate program one of these days, and I figure if they see sales coming in through affiliate links, they might be more convinced to keep their program going (I know this is a pipe-dream, but I like to picture the Amazon big-wigs sitting around and saying "Well, Steve bought $500 worth of merchandise through affiliate links last month, so let's keep this puppy going...")

Yeah, I know that's pure fantasy, but it's fun as hell to imagine that I'm really that important

And I don't just do this for Amazon, I do it when I'm buying Clickbank stuff, or basically anything that I purchase online.

Just curious if anyone else does this, and why or why not?

Thanks,
Steve