Even the downvotes IMO don't really hide stuff. If anything, I get more excited to open up the comments I see closed by downvotes. That's usually where the substantial conversation is.

It's mods and administrators all out removing comments and banning users that really brought reddit down. I still enjoyed it when it was mostly a lefty circle jerk where people downvote and get upset with you. It was them crossing the line of banning comments and users that challenge the status quo that made it not worth using at all.