I don’t think that search engines has anything to do with these particular awards. The majority of the audiance would be CAP members and those that they introduce to the Awards.
What may be ‘realistic’ in your eyes may not be the same for others. I can see how someone like JTodd or Casinomeister could win due to popularity only because they are known at CAP, in igaming industry, have thier own online forums and very well known by voters.
I don’t see the anyone in your list that you mentioned that is very active here at CAP unless I’m missing something.