“ As long as it isn't used maliciously I don't think downvotes make this place worse.” is this based on logic or emotion. Logically downvotes serve their purpose. Emotionally they drive people away.

“ We're just too small to see it come to fruition properly and to then decide if it is good the way it is now or if it needs further changes.”

We have had 9 years to grow. I realize I am a very small sample size. So small that this is not scientific. But I have not met a single person outside of Hive who I told “You earn curation rewards for voting on what you like. But someone can come along and negate that vote with a downvote so you can’t be sure you will get that curation.” This is where every single conversation stops with the other person saying “no thanks”.

I’m not saying downvotes don’t have their purpose. They are essential for stopping illegal or immoral posts. But using them to adjust rewards and to shape what people can and can’t vote on (if they hope to maximize their return on investment through curation rewards) goes against basic human nature. Humans as a species are not fully logical creatures.