As steemit grows, and especially as more people from poor countries join, I'm really not sure how it will go.
I am doing my own experiment on the upvote bot thing.
I personally don't want to use upvote bots, (and which I tried for a short time). I have now stopped doing so on my own posts.
On the other account, one I share with my girlfriend - she has absolutely zero ethical moral standpoint, and uses them/gets me to use them.... And this raises a question...
She see's steemit differently from me. Purely economic reasons. And I totally understand.
For people in the third world, bagging $10 a day is the difference between going hungry and eating, so there can be no real moral argument for not doing so, if this is the case...
Having food to eat today makes a difference, and if an upvote bots get you nearer to that goal...the long term benefit and growth of steemit is secondary....
And I would also imagine that the third world 'market' will be a growing one...
Personally, I take the long term view...
Because of my personal situation I see the conflicting, but equally valid perspectives.
The answer (if there is one),..... I really don't know....
Not very inspirational I'm afraid, but just though I'd put in my two pennies worth...