Thanks for taking the time to express everything here. You might enjoy a discourse on downvoting I had with @generalspecific here: https://steemit.com/steemitabuse/@generalspecific/a-recourse-for-preventing-the-abuse-of-flagging-downvotes

Add a new action on the blockchain that allows the @steemit account to ban and freeze coins of any user. This will allow to ban all the obvious bot accounts very quickly, as well as put a threat on all users who are trying to break the rules, eventually making them change their mind and play the game normally instead. Frozen coins would also virtually decrease the total supply and increase the value of the coin, so nothing is really lost.

Create a closed source tool for detecting collusion and upvote networks. Run it at random times and use the ban hammer on any user who passes a threeshold.

These two don't jive with the rest of what you're saying. Not many would be comfortable with this kind of centralized, potentially abusable control.