Do retail boxes preclude using the RAF benefits?

[Basilikos]

you need to set up the accounts using the raf and then upgrade the accounts using the cd keys on the boxes.

He's right. Specifically, you Recruit using your existing account. You answer the email that you send to yourself AND THEN (as in, "NOT BEFORE THEN") you create the recruited account. After that, you upgrade the account to retail using the boxes' keys. Repeat as much as you see fit.