Sally_Stitts - 5:09 am on Sep 1, 2011 (gmt 0)

Do your ad blocks only have one ad in them?
All blocks are 250x250 which never display more than 3 ads, which is the reason I use them.

Do you know which ad the user clicked on?
No.

Is it not possible that the first ad could be paying $10 but the third ad twenty five cents?
Yes. But what is the probability that the top ad is always clicked first, always followed by multiple clicks on ads #2 and #3? It seems unlikely. But because of personalization, IBA, geolocation and Cert. Ad Networks, I don't even know which ads are served to anyone and in what position, let alone which ads that get clicked.

Also, do we have any reason to be positive that clicks and earnings are updated simultaneously and always in sync? I don't ever recall Google coming out and saying so, and I have anecdotal examples over the years that would suggest they don't.
I agree.

I don't really see any reason (or motive) behind thinking it some kind of deliberate manipulation.
It is simply that it is Sooo consistent over time, that it begs the question. Big money, then little money. Weird.