"Don't fix the UI problem, work around it! Who cares if a good comment is downvoted and a possibly worse one upvoted, as long as the user's total karma is correct?" Is that your suggestion?

Well, yeah, that is my suggestion. And for extra bonus points, it works right now today. If it gets fixed in code, great.

except that the purpose of voting is supposed to be to help readers find the better comments, not to provide karma to the posters.

I was responding to the concerns of someone who was upset at accidentally downvoting a comment. I suggested two solutions, one which would restore karma, and one which would explain the downvote. Obviously not intended for SOP. One could use either solution, both, or neither.

After thinking about this more, I think you're wrong. There are at least two purposes to voting. One is to help find better comments, because points are associated with the comments.

But the other purpose is to provide karma to the posters. Otherwise there would be no accumulation of points associated with posters and shown next to your name when you're logged in.

Past 200 it doesn't matter. There is no extra functionality that gets enabled, so it only is an odometer telling you how much work you could have done.

It's not that important of a problem. I prefer knowing my vote is irrevocable and using it carefully.

Never forget the 80 / 20 rule.

You guys have just downed a: "Focus on the right thing first" saying.