I agree with this:

The Steem blockchain is based on a single principle: To reward participants based on the value they bring to the blockchain.

Though honestly, human greed and inability to look at the long term ramifications (how it actually hurts in the long run) is and will be present in other systems too, albeit in different forms.

I'm thinking that if and only if this bidbot issue cannot be resolved, whether Steem can provide other attractive reasons for Steemians to continue using the platform regardless.

Because the bidbots won't go away so easily, and we should perhaps focus on making Steem more attractive in other ways (maybe as a way to effect micro-payments)?