You are not missing something, you are finding it: the game theory of bots vs anti-bots is subtle and somewhat different from regular software engineering and cyber security.

For the most part bots wish to be hidden and sites wish to reveal them, and this plays out over repeat games on small and large scales. Can be near-constantly or intermittently.

The bot usually gets to make the first move against a backdrop that the anti-bot may or may not have a hand in.