The point of a platform like Steemit and other social media sites is to build an audience. And to build that audience you must, funnily enough, socialise and network to get to know people and to have people actually view your content.

Using bots could potentially get you in front of people, but it won't necessarily convince people to engage with your content.

Sure. But I dont see a point here. Making good content has a chance to get you in front of people, but it might not. Making bad content could get you up front but it may not. Fact is that regardless of content vast majority wont earn anything substantial here. Preaching "intentions" makes no difference to reality. The truth of the matter is: "Can you get whales to upvote you or can you not". Socializing, working hard, and all that stuff means absolutely nothing. (read my "in the mind of a pure cynic #2" post).

Buying votes isn't likely bring about quality engagement on your content or buy you the type of follower who will stick with you for the long run.

I dont care. I care only about token accumulation. My content might be the worst crap to ever hit the blockchain regardless of my effort and the work i put into it. Do you know what gets you interactions and followers? Fat fucking wallets and the ability to spread your wealth around. Go ask @berniesanders. Everything else is a "maybe". Focusing on accumulation of tokens i can fill up others pockets and in the end thats the most important thing to people. Do you think the Venezuelans going through crap they are care even in the slightest if your post has 1000 words or 10 if they know that by interacting with you they can get a 0.5$, 1$ upvote... They dont give a fuck.

. All the debate highlighted is how poorly informed bot users are when it comes to building an audience on Steemit.

First of all i dont think you are informed very well at how bots work here... But...
Nonames is a guy that made it here. Its like a CEO telling a homeless guy: "This is how i got rich, just do what i did".

In conclusion:

I dont care what you do. Posting a picture of a turd, boting it to #1 trending and writing: "Ill be giving everyone that can count the number of corn pieces there are 1 STEEM each".

That post would actually bring incredible value to everyone interacting. Now you could go around and complain, claiming what is better and what is not or you can take advantage of the opportunities in front of you.
There are things that could change for the better, trending page or whatnot, but someone that has a 1000 STEEM today, using the tools in front of him, in a year or so could have 10k STEEM and through his votes affect change, or he could continue posting for 0.5$ and preach how everything is shit and people are doing bad things.
Im always more for those that do more and talk less