It really depends on how and where you are viewing. In tribes with plenty of submissions, and you're sorting by 'trending'; submissions with more negative ratios will appear further down the list.

Coming from Reddit as well, I absolutely would agree with you. Reddit's usage of the downvote would be absolutely impossible to change at this point. Sure, I heard the mantra that 'downvotes aren't a dislike button'; but it seemed like no one really took it seriously. I have been surprised however at how good at not downvoting things that they disagree with the users here at Snapzu, are. Even with the influx of new users, I've been surprised by how few downvotes I've been seeing on potentially controversial comments or snaps. It's been refreshing. :)

I guess the best thing we can do is wait and see. I'm really new here too, so I'm still trying to get used to everything. I could easily have just been seeing the site through rose-colored lenses.... don't you dare take them off :P