I'm getting the same result as you, all fake ASINs and I've redone my setup at least four times. Something new today is the message below:
amazonproduct.errors.AWSError: AWS.MissingParameters: Your request is missing required parameters. Required parameters include AssociateTag.
Looks like there is a new required parameter for the API effective 11/1/2011. There is an
announcement and then more detail
here
I went to affiliate-program.amazon.com and signed up and a google search tells me the tracking id shown on that page when I'm signed in is apparently my AssociateTag.
How to pass it to the API is a mystery to me. Maybe the Python wrapper needs an update?
As for the other problem, maybe M0ngr31 will check in. He's probably busy with his day job.
Rob