I would favor the option to hide comments' scores while retaining their resultant organization (best/popular/controversial/etc). I have the sense that I'm biased toward comments with higher scores even before I've read them, which is counterproductive to my ability to evaluate arguments on their own merit.

I'm very excited about this possibility. I'm already gainfully employed in the bay area and am seeking a new living situation in the medium-term. I'd be willing to invest in this project at significant personal inconvenience.