I use the like button for exactly all the same reasons that you do, but I don't click it to show validation for misbehavior when someone out of the blue goes after another member with no other agenda but personal attacks and insults (like c#nt) while hijacking a valid thread. In that case I would suggest the powers to warn those who cheered for him encouraging his actions while enjoying the adrenaline of a free show.
I sincerely hope the Politics forum is restored, unfortunately the passions will remain but we can all promise to keep it classy, on subject and as factual as possible. We also should post on it remembering that as gay (or bi) men we're still a minority and we have a lot of haters out there. No need for us to be intolerant with those perceived as lower in the social pyramid.
My vote would be to keep the like button but is up to the powers to make that choice and whether to bring back the politics forum or not. Unfortunately when "like" was created it didn't keep some from posting emojis or the typical "+1" or "I agree" it was supposed to stop the need to do that.