Because if you're at the top of the pyramid, it's the easiest money you can possibly make. But you've basically got to be cult leader-level charismatic (and you've got to have zero scruples about bilking already struggling people out of their money.)

I go back and forth on whether or not this is shadier than an actual cult. Because while you know people are going to go broke in these MLM schemes, there's at least a sliver of a chance that an E-meter really can rid my corporeal vessel of invasive thetans.