All bot owners need to have a disguise. Smartsteem has a star system, you have a blacklist... So what, creating a new account on the blockchain can be done in 10 seconds for 2 STEEM (or anonymously with BTC/LTC/DOGE/MORE through blocktrades), and this new account won't be in your blacklist.

I shouldn't have to explain anyway, the intro of the article explains my views perfectly

If your users can't get into trending because of your bot, you have nothing to fear, it won't get downvoted if it doesn't get into top 25 trending