Acceptable -- Yes unfortunately that is what is done by a lot of very large players on the platform.
Many whales are the very entities selling their votes. I do not expect you will have any whale down vote you simply because you used any of these tools. They are well know by anyone that's been around awhile and used by a large percentage.

Please note: I wish this capability did not exist at all but until it is resolved it is certainly available to all.

Much success.