"De-facto bots" means "software which lets people perform repititious tasks much, much, easier than without it, but which pedants insist doesn't fit the definition of a 'bot'."
You mean, you know you're speaking deceptively, and intend to create a particular impression that you know is false, but you have an excuse ready in case you're called on it?
The difference between AWB, say, and a bot is pretty minimal in some cases - especially with some people that just click the button repeatedly without really paying any attention (which certainly happens from time to time, I'm not sure how often, though).
Back in my day, of course, we sent our edits by pigeon and considered dialup cheating at the Wikipedia MMORPG.
Some of us still do. Now get off my lawn!