By making self voting more risky and equally bid bots/vote buying people will hopefully see that this place isn't a get rich quick scheme. You were around for the Whale Experiment, do you remember how the place was buzzing when the overpriced whale nonsense was diminished? Now imagine that but not because altruistic, self sacrificing whales act on the lack of linear rewards from the much anticipated hf after it has been overwhelmingly requested by the community, but because numerous people now have free downvotes to check behavior they would have likely passed up because it would have cost them. You are relegating the use of downvoting to a marginal userbase that has proven to be not interested in anything but being trolls, not OK. You can float the idea that downvoting won't be used responsibly all you want but if I'm around I'll gladly make you look foolish by asking you what about the Whale Experiment..