Without taking risks, there is no gain. Wash trading=artificial activity, artificial volume. Volume has nothing to do with gains, but yes, it can simulate liquidity, popularity.
I have no idea if "SE tokens are a good investment". (Although, I invested a lot of money in them.) I'm only saying that the illiquid market can be better with honest market making activity. The cure for poor liquidity is more buying, and not more staking.
Nobody buys your token, but the market maker does. Nobody sells you the token, but fortunately, market maker does. And this person is risking his money and making a profit. What is wrong about it?
Staking is good. But with a liquid market, means, better exit possibilities, there will be more people willing to stake. I hope.
Nobody wants to invest in products which can't be sold at a reasonable price.
I understand what mean, the thing is I don't really get what is in for this market maker if his intention is not to simulate liquidity, popularity and manipulate the market. He really got to believe in the token future, or be a member of the team with A LOT of tokens in the wallet (but then I think we fall into the artificial activity and inside information). It's all about the intention of the market maker and who he is, or for who he works. Hard to set a clear line.
Me too I've made trades with a few tokens, even staked a couple (gg and battle). But looking at the market I don't see much future for them. And, I agree with you, a market maker can help to solve the problem, I'm just not sure if to do that he will need to cross that line. If he doesn't cross, most likely he will take losses, IMO.
Maybe you should "duckduckgo" for more about market makers.
Thinking again, indeed, probably I'm missing some basic concepts on what a market maker is. I'm not an expert on the subject, I'm just expressing my thoughts on it...I'll do the search and learn more about it. Good chat. Thanks for helping clarify and for ur patience :)