I agree with you about bots. I am a bit conflicted about using bots as well since it removes the "humaness" of the platform but to be able to survive in this platform specially to newbies like me we must adopt and follow the trend. It also enables new comers to have a fighting chance to keep interested in the platform.
Yes I updated my post because it seems most people were thinking I was referring to just upvote bots but I was referring to pay-for-vote bots.
As for using bots yourself, just because you use it doesn't mean you can't look at the posts the bot voted for you. Still can have the "humaness".