So the ethical question that it comes down to is : with XML-enabled sites like PM, is it reasonable to expect that those with sufficient knowledge might abuse the XML functionality to avoid direct interaction with the site...

I don't think XML has anything to do with it. Try applying s/XML/LWP/g on your article and will still make sense. My point is that as long as there will be machine-operated protocols, you could (and some will) bypass the usual way to operate it and provide some kind of automations .

The astute reader will note that in order to use LWP, one has to first understand how it works, hence understand Perl and therefore hang out at Perlmonks with his browser for a while!

Now, while I could make this little bot for my own purposes, I'd really prefer wasting my time in the CB. What would I do all day long, if I had an auto-CB-reply, auto-vote, auto-whatever-you-want-to-do-at-Perlmonks bot to dall those things for me?

<kbd>--
my $OeufMayo = new PerlMonger::Paris({http => 'paris.mongueurs.net'});</kbd>