Steemit is a decentralized system of governance with an aim toward censorship resistance. This means developing systems that self-correct, self-heal, and do not depend upon any kind of hierarchy. It is bound to be messy, but so is the free market.
I think that those who are against down votes don't like the feeling of punishment that comes with them. Whether something is theft or not depends upon the consensus of property rights.
RE: Why Down Votes and Flags are an Unavoidable consequence of Game Theory