You make a good point about the nuclear option causing more severe political polarization.  If it takes a super majority to confirm a presidential appointee, then that should theoretically force presidents to nominate moderates capable of garnering at least some bipartisan support - something that any American should be able to see as a good thing.  It is quite disingenuous to lay the blame for the nuclear option solely on Harry Reid and the Democrats though.  It was the Republicans, and particularly Mitch McConnell who really broke the system by promising, and then carrying out the promise to block ALL Obama nominees, regardless of where they fell on the ideological spectrum.  The blocking of Merrick Garland is an excellent case in point, as I think almost any Republican would agree that he was quite moderate, qualified, and even acceptable to Republicans, and they blocked him simply because they could. It was Republicans who broke the system through their tactic of total obstruction.