> those capital hill internships often result in K street positions.

Isn't that kind of the point? Making these positions unpaid/underpaid is an artificial filter removing otherwise great candidates who can't afford to take it on.

I completely get why they are highly contested and were I an American and politically inclined, I would take one. People wouldn’t take them if they did not see a benefit. But they exist nonetheless.

Mostly paycheck. I occasionally do freelance work and innovation prizes.