There are several different views on this exact topic. And this is what I mean when I say that the rules are based by the people with the most power (and it changes all the time). Some people belong to groups that autovote them, they pay for being a member, and in essence it is the same thing. And in reality using bidbots is a way to upvote yourself... Plus the people that sell there votes are also monetizing the value to themselves.
Basically, I think it is an individual decision that is based on your own goals and aspirations. If you self upvote, then you probably won't get many people to ever delegate to you because they will want their vote to go to the community. But if you are looking at this as an investment, then self upvoting is the best business decision you could make, as it will give you the highest reward from your vote.
Right now we are in a period where many people have many different opinions on the topic, so I say just do what you feel is right. Don't let others judge you, because only you know your true motivation.