“The Court would probably be comprised of God-fearing justices who reflect the family values of the senators who confirmed them, senators likewise reflecting the family values of the state lawmakers who elected them.”
What makes you think that state politicians that are elected by the people would be anymore “God fearing” and chose conservative U.S. senators (that then confirm justices) than U.S. senators picked directly by the same people? It is illogical. Until my home state finally got a Republican controled legislature, we routinely sent conservative GOP Senators to congress while still electing state legislators that were democrats. IF the 17th had not existed, we wouldn’t have sent conservative Senators to the congress....they would have always been Democrats.
There may be good arguements against the 17th (direct election of Senators by the people), but the one you are putting forth is not one of them.
It’s easier for God-fearing citizens to work with their state lawmakers to make recall laws for dealing with bad-apple state lawmakers who would uniquely elect federal senators than it is to amend the Constitution to recall corrupt federal lawmakers.