Groups and Gravity Forms

Please help me think this through.
I installed Groups
I installed Gravity Forms Elite
I installed Gravity Forms User Registration Addon
I have Affiliates Enterprise

I want to use gravity forms for all user registrations, including affiliates.
I have one in good working order now at https://jacanawarranty.com/user-registration-gravity-forms/
I duplicated it to make one for the affiliates plugin at https://jacanawarranty.com/user-registration-affiliate-gravity-forms/

So my questions are:
1. If I created a user group, “Affiliates” with one capability “read” how can I get these registrants associated with the affiliates section, so that they are in the manage affiliates section, and show as actual affiliates?

2. So does the affiliates enterprise assign a certain role outside of “subscriber/registered” that would indicate that they are affiliate specific?

3. Also.. are groups the same as “roles” ?? And I am currently using a menu role plugin that allows me to show/hide the menu button based on a certain role. Is there an addon that would allow me to create roles and groups simultaneously?

4. Am I thinking about this all the wrong way?

Please help.

Thanks in advance.