I doubt anyone is spending money to buy SBD to fit into the bot system.

Me either.

(except if you consider that they could get more if they self voted)

I estimate the returns at about 90% of a self-vote. No content required though and none of that pesky social uproar.

It may not have been been worthy of such a high amount but it wasn't flag worthy.

That is a reason to flag. (check my post on 'worth it or not') but, it comes out of the pool. a five hundred dollar nothing bought post could have given 100 authors 5 dollars each or 50, 10. Instead, the value goes to one that isn't worth so much and the SBD to a bidbot.

That should discourage low quality bot usage also!

Again, there is another option in one of my new posts. :P