This is related to suggestion algorithms used by Netflix and other companies to whom accurate prediction of content that the users like is worth a lot of money. In 2009 Netflix gave a $1 million prize to a team who won their prediction algorithm competition:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netflix_Prize
So if a bot is successfully voting for posts that the users enjoy, then it generates value. Steem is a complex system so it's difficult to say whether bots should be allowed or not. A serious problem would be if most of the upvotes come from shitty bots, resulting in noise.
I didn't even think about it that way. That means that this bot could be used eventually in the creation of Steemit based websites. People will be able to use Bots like this to find out what content gets what kind of leverage when and how. The bot might not be able to read it, but it can be used to generate databases of Meta-Data, and that Meta-Data can be used for Websites and Apps that people can access, or pages that can show different "Top" Categories.
I forgot about this example. I like the path you're thinking on. Interesting idea!
Exactly - if the bot's making money, one could say it's adding value by helping curate good content that others end up enjoying and upvoting. The more SP your bot gets the more it could influence post/trend performance though.