So in a nutshell, lurking helped streamers appear higher on game lists and get enough watch time to become an affiliate.

Can Twitch streamers see lurkers?

Can Twitch Streamers See Lurkers? ... Since some viewers tune in to enjoy the streamer's gameplay only and may not want to join in the chat, this type of lurking is acceptable on Twitch. The “Viewer Count” shows the number of people just watching, those with and without accounts.

What does lurk do on Twitch?

On Twitch and other livestreaming platforms, lurking is the action of passively viewing a live stream without engaging the streamer.