[verisimi]

Its meant to be that you don't downvote people just because you disagree, but in practise its different.

If I were to downvote (and I don't recollect that I ever have) I hope I would take the time to explain why.

I think your point is good - downvoting because someone is holding an unpopular but considered opinion is bad practise - ultimately it will lead to us here being in even more of an echo chamber than we are already.