downvote proponents are just saying, “Yeah, well my way is better. Lemmy is only for people who do it my way.”

If anything you’re the one being obtuse and saying your way is better and that people must adapt to your way. Downvotes are the default behaviour of the software and the “reddit-like” experience of Lemmy

Looks like your comment is receiving downvotes just fine…

Maybe this thread is a lesson in how downvotes have a purpose and why instances turning them off is silly puritanical nonsense that serves to aid bad content more than anything else it purports to achieve.