While the treshold for downvoting has increased since 2009, the threshold hasn't increased to the same level that the number of active users (and therefore vote

While the treshold for downvoting has increased since 2009, the threshold hasn't increased to the same level that the number of active users (and therefore votes) have, so I would guess proportionally way more of the community has access to downvotes today than in 2009. Also, I think in those days you did see vote numbers, but you didn't see the big obvious greying out of downvoted comments that exists today.