I too, have the option. Is the option even showing for you? It has been talked about for awhile now. Too much rep abuse and only one person to deal with it all.
Hmm I didn't even notice that, but I would guess it is probably because of rep abuse. People sometimes -rep people just for having different opinions or things of that nature. Who knows?
Still works for me. Taking the ability to give a negative rep away from regular users is brilliant, only those who have a membership or mods appear to be able to give negs now. I like it.
I dont think I have neg repped more than 3 people in the entire history of having rep. Whenever I get neg repped by sum1 it gives me a feeling of satisfaction that I actually pissed them off enough to get them to try to actually want to punish me with some lame internet popularity poll. Therefore I dont want to give some other asshole like myself the same satisfaction when I do it to them.
Now that I think about it though. This could have its advantages... I might just pay for a membership and go on a mass neg repping spree!!!
I'm in for no neg rep, but have it for everyone. I find it unfair that the more wealthy get to -rep, if I had extra cash to donate I would.
I have no actual knowledge whether or not this current paradigm is permanent. It may just be that Rummy hasn't turned it off for the other user groups, and is going to get to it eventually.