Okay can't stop myself from posting again
No, using a bot is not immoral perse. Why not? Because you are just using a set of algorithmic rules that you can also enact by playing yourself. You are not using information that no one else can access (like when you collude or can see someone else's cards). You are taking in information that everyone else can take in, and base decisions on that in an algorithmic fashion. So let's say your bot is something like: fold 90% of worst hands pf in any position, call 5%, raise best 5%. Then if someone is aggresive, reraise IP, etc. etc. Basically pretty simple stuff that a lot of regs actually just enact. There is no essential difference between sitting there and, like a robot, going through these motions, or actually have an actual robot doing it. Mind you, you have made all the decisions, taken all the risks, etc. You have just cut out the monotonous work of actually clicking based on these algorithms all the time.
So yes, it is prohibited by the pokersites, and yes many people feel strongly about this. But no, it's not really cheating, since you are basically doing the same as any reg, you are just making live easier for yourself by cutting out the boring, mechanical, work that you would have to do otherwise.
So yes, I think bots should be allowed, and no, I don't think that you should know from every player whether it's a bot.
Why not? Because once you know it's a bot, you can use this information to your advantage. You now know that your opponent just follows a strict set of rules, you can then try to figure out his rules, and then exploit that. Again, imagine a reg just playing mechanical and basically just following a set of rules. Is he obliged to tell you that? No, he is not obliged to tell you a significant part of his strategy, since that would give you an unfair benefit (since he doesn't know anything about your strategy).
At any rate, I don't think it is trivial to beat poker. And I definitely think it is even harder to beat it when you limit yourself to a strict set of rules that you have to play by (i.e. when you play with, or like a, bot).
I also think that this will be a problem that solves itself. At some point the fish, those that can actually be beaten by people playing mechanically or by bots, will, at some point, leave the poker scene. Then bots will no longer be profitable. Actually then the game will become much more interesting, since real creativity and psychology will enter the picture again.
Anyway, summarizing, I do not think it is immoral to play with a bot, or to play like a bot. I personally am more annoyed by regs who think they are really something, when they are just going through the motions. Finding the right algorithms to beat fish is pretty smart indeed, but that's all. Just sitting there like a robot and clicking away your life by doing something entirely mechanical is not inspiring in any way. You are taking money from dumb people, which you are entitled to, but don't paint yourself like a hero for society, because you are contributing nothing. Furthermore, you are wasting your own time, by day in day out, performing mechanical actions.
I guess one guy said it all, when he pointed out that poker in general, and poker players in particular, do nothing for our society. It is purely self-serving. So talking about moral when you are in the most selfish business around, yes that does seem kind of hypocrytical. And, of course, the people foaming from their mouth and wishing OP a horrible death and so on, well I guess these people can be found anywhere at any tea party rally