I don't really understand why just pulling their starter pack rights when they're identified isn't an option, though. It seems like that would be more effective and also reduce the outgoing rewards considerably more than just cutting them for everyone.

Yep. That's the issue for me. It sounds from yaba's comments below that the lower players all get lumped into the same category as the bots which has happened before.

I want the bots stopped too. I actually consider myself an investor more than a player but this has stopped me in my tracks now.

i was planning on creating more Heron accounts but now I'm not sure. As you say we don't know the actual amount so can't work that out yet.

Maybe it would help if we saw some actual numbers . . . how much are the lower players (not the bots) taking out out of the game relative to their contribution and how little are the big players getting.

Also, it's not just about money. I've made a massive time contribution into the game too.

I don't disagree with the need for something to be done and I suppose, as a non dev, I just think there must be other solutions to reduce the bots.