How about disabling Red rep and just allow only Green Rep (Agree Rep). This will then not start a red war. And it will still have the same effect just you will see no one in the red.
Indeed, and from the number of red pips some people have, I almost think they wear it as a badge of honor. I've seen rep implemented on other forums like this and I think that overall DP's handling of rep is better than most. The having to sacrafice a rep point to give negative rep is a good way to limit the abuse of negative rep.
Okay this is REALLY funny (no sarcasim), someone gave me negative rep for my post #4 above. There have been several controversial posts I made in the past couple of days that I figured someone would give me negative rep for, but picking out that post to give me negative for that post is really funny.
I think the more rep you have wehn you give red rep it takes off like 15 points depending on how much the other guy has.