Excellent post, matey!
I 'think' the motivations behind some of the downvoting behaviors are purely personal, and an expression of people who've had 'the taste of power' for the first time in their lives (immature, but a reality).
These same people are also ideologically leftist - so have no problem with using authoritarianism strategies to maintain control over 'their domain' ( as they see it).
Exposure to the wider world - of the shenanigans - may be one way to apply pressure for change.
The avaricious find losing stacks of money, as one of the best motivators to affect things going forwards....