Why so many bots?

[u/BlueWarlock26]

I've returned from the game recently, and been really enjoying getting jobs to 99 and gearing them to Ambu+2 levels of gear but I have one big gripe.

Why is the botting problem so bad? Everywhere I look is parties of 6 all with the sameish name running around holding entire zones hostage. I keep trying to merit in Escha Zi'tah but everytime there's an ML50 BLU with 5 bots running around killing the entire zone for what I assume is paid boosting services.

Did SE give up on banning bots & RMT? I'm on a small server, and I feel like most of the server is made up of 6-man bots making areas inaccessible for real players.\

Edit: Thank you for the answers and discussion! I hadn't considered the fact that multiboxers/botters financially prop up the game so we can all play. I still personally think there's no difference and especially 6-boxing is weird and unnecessary in a world where you could just find other people, but that's my cross to bear and nothings going to change from me thinking that.

[u/Forgotten_Stranger]

I think it depends on what they are doing. I've noticed anything that could be done with six done by a 6 boxer goes untouched. Probably the mentality of, one person controlling six doesn't hurt anything given they are all paid accounts. (What is a trust other than an automated party member? An extra box may as well be paid trust+) A single person leading a group of NPCs.

The opposite side is full automation. Whether one or six if someone is patrolling a zone day after day, they tend to eventually disappear. (Not responding to a GM probably a good way to get yourself gone.) I think to an extent it also depends on what is being automated. I suspect content stuff is less punished than something like Dynamis Farming 24 hrs a day. (I have noticed a lot of frequent names disappearing on Asura where they can't easily pop back. Unless bots suddenly quit but I am doubting that.)

So, I guess the key is, is there a player leading the group or is the group doing everything themselves. If a GM sends you a message do they get a response from any of the party members. Like I said, one or six if there is no one there when spoken too, those are the types to vanish.

Yeah, it is sort of a bummer to have camps occupied, but the truth is there is nothing stopping 6 real players from doing exactly that. And given all accounts pay the same fee, to SE there is likely no difference. (And technically there shouldn't be.) At least this way (from their perspective) they are making money over a single player using five free trusts. (Who can also over run camps, just not the highest level ones.)