I don't think there is anything cynical about it 

Unfortunately, I suspect I'm being realistic, not cynical. As, apparently, paid editing is the new accepted norm on Wikipedia, editors who are interested in improving the encyclopedia without taking payment will be forced out - cetainly anyone who expreses any opinion other than complete acceptance seems to be shouted down very vigorously by its proponents. In addition, being attacked for having the nerve to try to improve an article found during a CCI clean-up, being told that I should not edit anywhere on Wikipedia because I referred to redacted instead of redacted for a British Naval Base in Northern Ireland, does not improve my mood.