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> On top of that, the user's client can do any kind of algorithmic bot detection they want.

Bot traffic is sometimes detectable only at scale.

There's also a huge asymmetry between what clients know about each other and what the platforms know about the clients. Bot detection is only really feasible by the platforms.

> Bot traffic is sometimes detectable only at scale.

They why are the entities with scale seemingly unable to detect it?

$$$$$$

At which point being unable to solve it because it's uneconomical is a form of being unable to solve it, and the centralized system forfeits the alleged advantage.

Sometimes the problem doesn’t get solved because it is lucrative to not solve it… not because it is too hard/costly to solve. Ie: some platforms don’t internally classify spam/bots/corruption/scams/etc as a problem. Often, the right amount of it increases engagement… and thus the perverse incentive perpetuates or amplifies the problem.

Think: corollary to Cunningham's Law.

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