Affection Stat =/= Friendship

Then what's the point of it even being there?

^ Affection affects the chances of Pokémon hanging on at 1HP among other effects

Friendship is used to determine the BP of Return and Frustration, as well as the evolutions for certain species

Well that's confusing...

Indeed, luckily I think that they typically rise in similar fashion so you may be close

Yeah, he evolved today :)

Just one step closer to my favorite Pokemon of all time