 ::like i wrote above, i think paid editors can be really valuable, when they declare their COI and offer suggestions on the article Talk page instead of directly editing the article.  people who know what they hell they are talking about - VERY useful!   but COI erodes trust in the encyclopedia (and often causes scandal and damages the reputation of companies that do it extensively... that is why offering suggestions on the Talk page meets everybody's needs - good, up to date content can get suggested, reviewed for NPOV and quality of sourcing, and added by a volunteer. that is how it can work well.   