I think that this is a very legitimate topic for discussion here at PerlMonks [....] I don’t seem to be being too successful at starting one here...

Don't sell yourself short; you've been very successful at starting a discussion. This post has been active for almost a week and has prompted dozens of thoughtful replies. It currently dominates the Weekly Best nodelet. I'd call that a successful discussion starter by any measure. To say that the "only response" has been thirty downvotes is to insult the people who took the time to write thoughtful responses.

That you (apparently) haven't been successful in converting anyone to your way of thinking is a separate issue altogether. You seem to be saying that, as long as people disagree with you, it means that: A) you haven't couched your argument in the right way, or B) you've been prevented from reaching the right people in the right manner. So you restart the discussion in a new thread, perhaps stating your case slightly differently; and you suggest a poll, as if dozens of votes and replies aren't a clear poll in themselves. You refuse to accept that you could simply be wrong (which in this case doesn't mean morally or factually wrong, but simply out of step with the preferences of the rest of the group), and that manifests as a social obnoxiousness that grates on people.

Or should I just saddle up my pony and vamoose?

Honestly, if you can't be content at a forum that allows down-voting, and it's clear that this one will not be changing any time soon, then that may be your best option. I'm not trying to get rid of you, and I don't get the impression any else here is either. But there are other places to discuss Perl that may be more to your liking; there's no need to work so hard to remake this one your own way. Life is too short to spend your time on Internet forums that make you unhappy. And threatening to take your ball and go home....well, that kind of thing makes it pretty tempting to call your bluff.