I think I'm still averaging about 1 neg rep a month, if that over the last couple years. Admittedly, if we went back to that system where you can add a line about why you neg repped somebody, I know myself-I'd probably do it more often. But the whole crowd-sourcing/oblivion thing is just childish. I mean, don't me wrong---somebody actively encourages another person to commit suicide or hurt themselves, that actually does happen in real life (that's been proven out by real data), that's ban-worthy. Somebody keeps posting somebody's real name or location, that's banning material. Or uses a lot of racial slurs that easily come up if somebody were to find it hit top of page on google or whatever, we don't need that shit either. But Somebody's just trolling or being an asshole or overly-insulting, keep the rep system but we don't need cast too big a light on the whole issue.
Although, anecdotally...I enjoy the semi-annual post by Rex where he lists out the ten posters he has on 'ignore', and the vast majority of them are posters he actively engages/argues/cites on myriad threads. I compulsively read everything he puts out on the O&G thread, but he can remind me (and he's good people in real life IIRC) of that girl in junior high that proclaimed, "I'm never talking/listening to you again" and then 5 minutes later passes you a note with a bunch of "circle yes or no" questions on it.