It is really interesting to read your perspective on this and then to read the bot owners (and their masters) discussions in the comments.
Whatever the outcome, this is a conversation that desperately needs to take place.
It seems like you were winning the early battles, but the bot owners have now rallied. I think if you want to start winning the good fight again, you need a strategy and a coordinated effort. I'm sure you are trying this, but is it enough?
From what I'm reading, bot owners are saying go after circles voters and vote traders, too. Also, maybe instead of attacking several bots at the same time, it would be easy to focus on one at a time. Start with the most despised.
In other words, team up with the bot owners who are willing to help take out the other parties you can both agree on disliking. Divide and conquer the bot owners. They are already in competition and surely would like to see each other fail, too. Don't let them team up against you, find a common enemy.
This is how a handful of Europeans destroyed vast empires all over the world, while simultaneously hating on each other. If it worked for them it can work for you.
Oh we aren't worried about that at all, this post is not because I'm actually worried or panicking like they may think and pointed out. I'm sure curators can live without some rewards for some time, most do it for the effect it has on the authors that get curation anyway.
Taking them on one by one would have been an idea, and something some people are doing but we have a lot of stake and downvotes so we can manage more at a time, maybe even more soon. :)
I understood this post to be an update about the situation and a place for discussion about the downvotes that are happening.
I just get the impression that you want to see the EIP and newsteem succeed and the trending page fixed. I didn't get the impression that you are worried or concerned.
I'm not too keen on following downvote trails. I actually am only trying to follow upvote trails of smaller curation projects, but I am sticking with OCD trail for now even though it's not small because I liked ocdb and I've been upvoting ocd posts for awhile.
I also downvote, but I don't really want to take on the big guys for obvious reasons, however, I would be willing to help out more targeted abuse.
It's a tough job and I admire your courage. Ignore the haters, you have much more support than opposition.