I see Steemit as a platform where I can write quality stuff, be found by a receptive audience and, best of all, get paid for it. Admittedly, Im only getting cents and the occasional dollar but the reward factor is great and the ability to reward others with more than a Facebook style 'like is the clincher for me'. A couple of times ive been picked up by a whale, but thats the exception.

And that is what steemit is all about. That is what got me to steemit, I blog or post an article and I get a few cents unlike my own personal blog website which only earned $1 in a month.

It is when people are complaining about the reward pool, my analogy is exactly their way of thinking. Fortunately, we can't really drain the pool as someone said.

About the bots, minnowbooster is the best so far because it will still give you better return and will refund your money if the vote did not go through.

All the bid bots like booster, bellyrub and others are now being unprofitable for user because others are throwing their bid without looking if they are going to lose or not.

There is already an app or site that is up and running for a while to see and track most of the bid bots.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/yabapmatt/bottracker/bottracker.html#paid