I was all set to start typing it up back when I had 19 karma (you need 20 to make a full post), but then I started posting in this thread, and my karma score drifted back down to a single digit.

Post hoc ergo propter hoc? Looks like you actually came out ahead from that thread, karma-wise.

In fact, I think that thread illustrates LW's typical reaction to someone with an outlying opinion: initial rejection when it's poorly put, followed by upvotes when it's cogently fleshed out & defended. Looks OK to me.