As much as you may be joking about the system, I like it!

But, yeah, when I posted this I wasn't thinking about the filtering aspect, just the negativity ascribed to articles that have no malicious or otherwise time-wasting intent. Given that, I strongly believe a different system is called for.

EDIT: but back to disinterest-- doesn't no votes at all bump articles down below those with positive votes? It certainly should, which solves the page real estate problem without the perceived antagonism of a thumbs down.