Ever since I made my first dime from google AdSense, I've been clicking compulsively on the AdSense report page to see the pennies add up in hopeful anticipation of the day they actually pay me (you need to make $100 before they will cut a check). It's pretty addictive, like I imagine the lottery or something is, except with clicking instead of scratching (though I do some scratching, too, but that's a matter of hygiene).
Anyway, I know google likes to keep things simple, but I think they're missing an real opportunity by not running ads on the AdSense report page itself, like, "get rich while working from home," and what not. Who is more desperate and impressionable than someone looking to make money from their blog?
Same thing with google analytics pages. It could be an interesting feedback loop -- you post on a subject, you get traffic because of that subject, then you're looking at your report which lists your traffic and then links to products having to do with that traffic. And because it's all in the context of your own content. you'll be extra interested. I find myself extra interested in the ads on my blog, for instance, although I try not to click on them because I think that's cheating, but there are so many fascinating products -- like Virgin Mary statues! And so many interesting wedding services and concepts!
People love personalized things. Especially advertising. It makes them feel special.
They probably thought about it, maybe even tried it, but all that obsessive page reloading set off their click fraud algorithm, so they had to reprimand themselves.