(bolded) That might be the Viva La Dirt League video!
Would folks feel more comfortable if the entire table needed to agree on what was a "good idea" to get a modifer? I always preferred the term "referee" to GM/DM because it infers neutrality. If you've got a table where the referee and players have trust and don't feel at odds with another, I think the referee making the call is less of an issue.
At any rate, I still think it's the roll that decides the final outcome, but there is room for interpretation on modifiers to that roll.