Can you elaborate on the word "manipulate"? In my opinion all we did is let our beta users know that we are on PH that day. The whole article is about how PH block products from going infront of new audiences
Well of course that is the goal. Without upvotes your product is never seen by your potential users. If you solely rely on luck of people finding you buried in the Newest section than 99% of the time you won't reach the front page. I dare to say very few product ever made it to the top without the support of their initial beta / power users.
...with the explicit goal of getting people to upvote your submission.