I have been using steem followers for a week or two now. But i got a lot of contact followers and an upvote which otherwise i wouldnt have get both. 
The problem is very understandable and i think having a 9000 users is a bigger advantage than the problem itself has created. 

The solution i propose would be to have one vote from 9000 users is a bigger asset and opportunity. Their  is an ethiopian saying 50 lemons are a heavy burden to one person but 1 lemon for fifty persons is a treasure.

So why not we use a circulateive vote useage where one person should give one vote per week or more. The duration might be variable. When 9000/7days  would be 1285 upvote value per day which is good value. So think about revolving vote and if anybody wants to give more vote the system can give a little insentive to promote for an hour or more.

Respect