There are definitely more bots in the replies to the people I follow (a dwindling number as they are all switching focus to bluesky, threads and their own email

There are definitely more bots in the replies to the people I follow (a dwindling number as they are all switching focus to bluesky, threads and their own email). And many have the $8 checks so ... $1 a year is going to very little to the bot population.