The problem isn't the bots, the problem is the lack of differentiation between bots and real accounts. I say open up the API and let people make whatever bots they wish, but if you tweet through the API then you get a big "BOT" tag next to your username on the feed.
But not every tweet through the api would be bots right? Like someone using a custom twitter client as a single user shouldn't get that label, no?
It will be interested to see what obituaries settle on this week though.