Gaining skills while afk is not really something out of the line - anyone can go buy bunch of skill chips and become uber overnight without ever playing the game. Yes most ppl (me included) instinctively dislike bots but as long as they don't give any economic advantage, technically there's no difference if an activity is automated or not.
Like Sidxx said, if you find a hunting bot, congratulations! This is your day, a chance to make some free ped. Totally legal too...
There has been theories about MA's hidden punishments. Like, trading for RL money. In most cases it's impossible to prove. Yes I gave this guy whom I had never seen or spoken to before a mod fap for free and he never gave it back. Most likely I got paid outside game which is forbidden by EULA, but I can always say well this is my business if I want to make precious gifts... and MA can never prove anything.
What they can do is switch you to "no loot mode" for a while... and you can never prove anything. Nobody could ever prove any of this, maybe they are doing it or at least were doing it in the past, maybe it's just coincidences and lot of imagination, idk.
Anyway, leaving our feelings aside, the only thing that hurts this game (and indirectly, all other players) is something that gives you
undeserved economic advantage. While botting or actually playing, doesn't matter.