Get Survey Points! What's the point?

Why do we insist on awarding survey panelists points? Why do we think that points will keep people on our panels?

Points do work in some circumstances like buying gas, which is a "need" that you actively pursue on a regular basis. These products  are widely available and are limitless whenever you need them so when you get gas, companies want you to use them instead of the other guy.

This however, does not necessarily translate well with online surveys. As a panelist, you have to wait for surveys to come in so it may take a very long time for you to accumalate anything worth checking out for. 

Imagine if you had to wait far an email about available gas in your area that awarded you points per litre up to a maximum of 20 litres but if your car only takes diesel you might disqualify and get to fill up 5 litres? 

This business model would surely kill a whole industry so why do we think it will work for surveys?

If I want that iPod on SurveyBonanzaWorldPlus.com (fake site but it might as well exist) I would have to do about 250 surveys which would take me more than a year to do. By the time I accumalate enough points, that iPod that I initially wanted will no longer exist. It makes more sense to get a part-time job, quit after a week and buy that damn iPod with weeks of my life spared.

I'll end my rant here by asking one more question....

Is this the absolutely best we can do?

End Point.