I am not much for rules either.

I've observed some of the issues you've experienced with downvotes, and your statements about how you are able to be immune to them, which is great. Many people are not so fortunate.

Many people are apt to just walk away if they encounter a constant barrage of downvotes (and I probably would, too). We are trying to establish a tribe / community that is more immune to that sort of behavior.

This tribe was founded as an experiment of sorts. It's been far from perfect, but so far that experiment has been quite successful, imho. Dealing with potential downvote abuse is a crucial next step to pave the way for growth and expansion.