First the bad critique to a very good article: This view is way to two dimensional and way to much common sense (both views). There is enaugh scientific theory and empircal evidence about the value of a network (which is not the blockchain, but anyway). It follows roughly Metcalfes LAW (one of a few network laws).

IF (hypotheticly) the selfvoting/the higher numbers under each post, attracts more people to steem based Systems like Steemit, THEN the value increases, regardless of the balance of SBD/steem/fiat.

>>But your completely right by the community aspect, as you told us in your de-stem post: the community currators (we all) have a potential loss by bots.<<

Using Bots = hurting your community

BUT most people are not willing to write articels (which takes, for a good one, 1-2 hours) just in order to get the poor payout, you get when you not use bots (its a dilemma when it comes to sustainability of the community) and in the long run there will be only a little "circle-jerk" community ^^ with good post and the rest will be some pop-culture-mainstream facebook and Instagram like posts (wich is good for mass adoption). Its Bullshit that "we" (from investors point of view) need "good content". We only need users/ a higher n. But from readers point of view of course we are so happy about any high quality contend (so its not all about money, I personaly dont want another facebook)