Since "low-value flame wars" are already explicitly against the community guidelines, using that as the argument against notifications is like banning knives be

Since "low-value flame wars" are already explicitly against the community guidelines, using that as the argument against notifications is like banning knives because they are potential murder weapons. And then having people defend that decision as a "good thing" that we can't cut vegetables. You can already flag inappropriate content. We don't have to fear it.