I'm not quite cynical enough to believe every compliment offered has a financial motivation.
But if I started receiving calls from random strangers telling me I'm awesome I'd probably be inclined to doubt the callers were motivated by sincere belief in my awesomeness. Actually I'd probably be saddened to think the only compliments I was getting were from people paid to do it, or concerned that someone, somewhere, was probably secretly laughing at me.
Zack, if you fancy pivoting I'd be more likely to pay to listen to the funniest responses you get :-p