You keep a ratio here in exchange for a variety of priveleges other users do not get.
Like what? You can see who else is leeching/seeding torrents, you can search BakaBT directly, you don't have to wait a day or two before being able to download anything new?
You did not earn them as every other user had to.
No one "had to" earn anything, really.
While it may be pointless, "cheating" is simply the wrong word to use. I don't see the point.
It's cheating in the sense that what you have is not what you did. If you copy your neighbor's answers during a test, it's cheating, regardless of whether or not the test is actually worth any part of your grade and whether or not you're even allowed to do that.
Hence, it's not "cheating", which is by definition a violation of the rules.
Here are the few definitions of cheating, as provided by
Dictionary.Reference.com:
verb (used without object)
4. to practice fraud or deceit:
She cheats without regrets.5. to violate rules or regulations:
He cheats at cards.6. to take an examination or test in a dishonest way, as by improper access to answers.
Given the context here, the term "cheating" clearly refers to number 4 and not number 5 or 6. It is entirely possible to "practice fraud or deceit" without "violating rules or regulations" or "taking an examination or test in a dishonest way."