but nobody’s voice would get silenced unless more people turned the knob down on them than up?

So, a popularity contest of opinions where unpopular views do get silenced.

The signal can be inhibited in exactly the same way by just not upvoting what you don't want to see. Yes, it's not as powerful as downvoting but then at least you're not telling someone to sit down and shut up.

For me, that is the real issue. Why are so many people so keen to hide opinions that they don't like? Again: we are talking about viewpoints expressed in a thoughtful manner. Not irrelevancy, not insults, not incoherent rambling. They're all fair game.

Personally I find it disturbing that so many people are happy to invalidate and silence others. I don't agree with you but you made your point well and it would never cross my mind to downvote you for making it.