No matter the microstructure, Algos effect is felt many levels upside. Don't you believe it has no effect! A butterfly flapping wings in China affects the weather in Belize.
Just make sure it is a Lab, they are the best dogs God ever created. Got one sleeping next to me right now, and her brother's in the chair ten feet away. Life is good... Very well said. An algo has never cost me money, but my lack of focus and discipline has... to the tune of thousands. Find a setup that works, practice it, then execute it consistently. Or as they said in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High": "Learn it. Know it. Live it." (Brad Hamilton/Judd Hirsch). http://www.hark.com/clips/vhndvdkhvq-learn-it-know-it-live-it
If you take that to the extreme, you should only papertrade. After all, your buying or selling impacts the market, too! Those few ES contracts you buy might set off a sell algo that takes the ES down 50 handles! Papertrade until you are rich, then go cash in your sim account. When the bank asks why you didn't actually make the trades, tell them it was the algos' fault. Do people actually believe this stuff?
You mean, like this: http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/165192/how-do-we-make-money-on-the-internet