We are surrounded by ignorance and/or stupidity. What few realize is that there would be no republic and as a result, no United States were it not for the Electoral College. During the Constitutional Convention none of the other 12 colonies wanted to be ruled by New York. The solution was the Electoral College as enshrined in
Article II Section I of the Constitution and modified via the 12th amendment.
The fundamental argument for the Electoral College has not changed. If anything it is more relevant today and within many states, should be extended down to the county level within a given state. Doing so would prevent the city of NY from dictating public policy for all on NY state. Same goes for Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, LA/San Francisco and others.
The bottom line being that should the Electoral College be dissolved, being that it is the foundation of the republic, the republic is dissolved at the same time.