"we are not doing it to hurt the affiliate or anything just to motivate him to send traffic again"
No, of course not.
No, it does not hurt the affiliates, when they will paid at once like a street corner nickel hooker.
No, they are so happy. They believe, they are landed in the heaven.
To be honest: This pressure = motivation fallacy came from Multi Level Marketing bullies and is only psychological warfare in business.
Only a reckless racketeer or a complete idiot has the dubious courage to hang a sign around his neck with the slogan "Prime Partners: 97.5 % for us - 2,5% for you, and it does not hurt you"
Fantastic promotion.
The truth is: Your wallets are a little bit unstable, and so the future interest is focused on big affiliates. Small affiliates will be eviscerated like a Christmas roast.
At least they will leave your company with happiness and singing wonderful bard songs about you.
Merry Christmas, Prime Partners.
Leopold