All the votebots get their stake from somewhere. As you point out. I am all for whales flagging the votebots too, but they are the votebots.
I have stated, and it's still true, that you don't hurt my rewards, or any minnows, to a measurable degree. Whales (including you) receive 99% of rewards, and all the minnows share the remaining 1%. If they managed to take you out somehow (which I am strongly against!!!!) that wouldn't change one bit. The whales would see their ROI go up by the amount you no longer received, and the minnows would see 1% of that increase: 1% of 5% of the rewards they currently receive.
Today @arcange published his daily stats, and the median payout is .03 SBD. 5% of that is hardly measurable, and 1% of 5% is completely invisible.
The whales are after you, because if they convince you to back off, whatever rewards you no longer receive, they will get.
Don't let them!
PS. Would it kill you to upvote comments you find relevant enough to reply to? It's kinda part of the Steemit culture, and I do it. I realize my votes ain't much, but what I got to use, I do. Whether you do or not, I'd be interested in your answer to the question.
Also, I've never thanked you personally from defending me from flags in the past. Others said it was because you were opposing those that flagged me. Whatever the reason, you defended free speech that day, and I am grateful for that.
Thanks!