Yes. I haven't seen any benefit really except in the reputation score which of course makes the score less accurate when upvote bots can affect the score. If I was writing this algorithm, I would separate the upvote bots from any effect it can have on the trending and hot pages (and rep score) and just set it up to affect the promoted tab. Then require the upvote bots have greater distribution to those using them (as it is now, >99% of those rewards go to the bots themselves).
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Thanks for the clarification @zoidsoft.
Being one not to use bots, I didnt know for sure...but intuitively, I didnt think they were a great deal. I see the money people spend to upvote content and make it trending and wondered if it was worth it. I never put pen to paper to see what the results were and I am glad you did.
To put it another way, bots create skewed reputation results, not much help for the minnows and slowing of wealth distribution.
The skewing of reputation I was able to grasp onto. Now that I see how you statistically showed how the bots dont really favor newer people (or older ones for that matter), it makes sense to promote this point.