I flag others too, including some on trending, and vote up many more. Yours is just a case that was brought to my attention. Of course you make the bots richer as they keep a share of anything paid to them. They are businesses.

Why do you think your posts deserve a bigger reward than others? Are you promoting to get more followers or just for profit? I am concerned about what is good for Steem as a whole. I think your posts deserve something, but $45 is excessive when you compare it to others.

Try not buying votes and see what happens. I would not flag then.