In fairness, It is a pretty dreadful deal :p In exchange for a slightly above average revenue cut (assuming you didn't negotiate with your network properly; most will have no problem matching 70%), you get to dramatically limit your content options and aren't likely to receive the same advantages provided by normal networks like Polaris (the gaming sub-network of Maker Studios). Woohoo!
On the matter of mob mentality though, it's not really something that can be avoided. Our social structure is based on the idea of in/out groups, which has the often negative effect of encouraging mob mentality (though i agree that the thumbs up/down feature encourages this further). If one opinion (group) is more popular than the other, it's much easier for said group to simply drown the latter out rather than directly debating the issue on an individual level.
No one is immune to this either. Everyone, no matter how reasonable or open minded, will frequently feel to the effects of the aforementioned in/out structure. It is quite literally engraved into every facet of out lives. The only real question is how good are you at holding those feelings back, and looking at the situation objectivity rather than through your "groups" tinted goggles. Forum fanboys are a delightfully effective example of those who can't ^^; (I'm not implying anyone present is a fanboy, it's just an easy example).
Edit: I should probably note that my line of "it's not really something that can be avoided" isn't entirely true, it's just obscenely difficult. Outside of spending the next few generations bringing up kids to be ruthlessly objective and void of emotion, it won't happen. I'd argue that would actually be worse than how things are now.
We should definitely start teaching kids to think more for themselves though...
