Probably a stupid question (or perhaps a stupid person asking it ), but how are bitcoin faucets profitable? If they are NOT simply a charity which tries to feed small, nearly worthless, fractions of bitcoins back into the system to produce a positive effect upon how quickly people start using bitcoin (trickle UP economics I suppose), then they are most likely a means of making money for the faucet's owners by risking a little bit of bitcoin in exchange for a much greater profit, right?

I suppose my question is essentially how is a profit made by risking those small fractions of a bitcoin to so many people?

Also, seeing as my user name is derived from South Park, I am obligated to ask if this involves collecting underpants using an army of gnomes...?