Thanks for such an exhaustive reply @meno ... it is indeed a quite nuanced topic, which is why I wanted updated information and opinions.

To me, the answer to your question depends pretty much on what it is that you are seeking to get out of the platform. If you would like to engage in discussion with others, which I suspect from your writing approach, I would say it might be best to restrain from using too many bots, as they seem to attract spam (mostly) and deter real human interaction.
I definitely enjoy the interaction and discussion. I'm just not in the position to spend hours per day on it as a hobby though. I am seeking to get paid out of the platform. I didn't realize the spambots deterred interactions tho - I usually am able to scroll past them, but it's something to think about.
Thanks again!