Sorry I missed this when it was first published, but these are some great standards to follow. I really hope that as many of these as possible are incorporated into any proposed changes. From a non-technical point of view, I would say the most essential are :
- Test Environment
- Simulate "Real World" Conditions
- Sufficient Time to Test
There have been some proposals flying around to "fix" the current system. One of these is free or discounted downvotes. As a proponent of engaging content being a key to Steem's success, I hope this change is never implemented (as I think it will be the final nail in the content coffin). If it is ever seriously considered, I am confident the standards you proposed above would show that in "Real World" conditions, downvotes would be used as selfishly as upvotes have and will create an incredibly negative and anti-social social network.