I think we may have crossed wires a little in our definitions of 'bots' - I was being more strict on the automation side - but if we use it to broadly to mean partially automated sock-puppet accounts, then yes, you are correct. They are certainly there to take SP from the faucet though not all operations require that SP.
Insiders? STINC insiders? I know @themarkymark implied that recently, but I was beginning to wonder. What's the benefit of minting new SP at the same time as dumping STEEM? Is it to artificially boost some market indicator? I'll have to think this over in the morning, when I'm less sleep-deprived.
I was thinking about market manipulation as we approach the launch of SMT's. There's a question that, AFAIK, no one has asked @ned. I'm not going to bust it out quite yet - but I'll just say this: I suspect that for SMTs to be attractive to investors, STEEM needs to not experience any precipitous falls.
(Sorry of this makes no sense - too tired to internet).
RE: 25 Reasons Steem Will Replace Bitcoin as #1 Cryptocurrency by 2021!