I still think the demise of Federalism and the increasing tendency of the Supreme Court to legislate its policy preferences is more destructive than the direct election of Senators. Is there any research into how Senators acted before and after this amendment, to see if it made any real difference?
And in addition to that why should I trust the oh-so-glorious(/sarc) NY State Leg to choose a better Senator then I could. Ditto the State Leg's of Mass, CA, VT, MD, etc.
The two are inextricably linked; just look at the Alito hearings. If the senator's were there on the behalf of the states, and not pandering to their constituents, we would not have had the theater of absurdity we watched unfold.
It made no difference and was a sop to the "democrats" among us. How would a selection by political machines make any positive difference? Recall that at the time of the writing of the Constitution political parties not only did not exist but were considered anathema to the Founders.
Then Jefferson went and created the anti-Hamilton party that we know as Democrat.