Hmmm, but aren't most upvotes received because the user agrees or the content/author speaks to them in a certain way? Upvotes are mostly ideological, so opposing that reasoning for downvotes is a hard sell.

I too am more in the middle. I don't think removing downvotes is the answer, but 1-5 users removing the will of 600 isn't going to cut it for long either.

Honestly, if the user isn't upvoting himself, then the rewards shouldn't be in question. I'd say the only time earnings should be questioned is if a large vote under control of the author is used on their own content. Just my opinion, of course.