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Socks.

It is still stake based, so even with sock accounts it doesn't matter. It would if it was one vote an account though

Each sock would have the 7 votes, bypassing the restriction by employing the socks to split the VP amongst them.

Yes, but splitting the stake doesn't generate more stake, it dilutes the vote of each. Even with a massive stake like Steemit's, this would dilute it sufficiently that several of the large whales would be able to counter in some way.