I think you need to divided "surfers" into recreational surfers or webmasters for a more accurate answer to that.

Surfers/members often have habitual collection habits. They download and collect everythying, maybe share it with their friends, but don't usually publish it or use for commercial return.

The guys that would progress along the path that you described Lee would have some reason to do so - they're monetizing it.

Alternatively they're REALLY bored. Which I've ofen thought the case with a lot of the hotlinking that happens from Asia. I haven't experienced it amounting to anything as serious as what you suggested however.