What if, instead of down-voting individual posts, there were a system in place where each user could cast one strike per month against another user on the platform. At the end of the month, the user with the most strikes forfeits all Steem and/or gets blocked from posting.

An ongoing tally would show users with the most strikes. Offenders would be put on notice that if they don't shape up, they stand to lose everything.

Such a self-policing system would put an end to abuses quite quickly IMO.