One reason the whips have so much power is that they studiously collect all the dirt on their MPs and use the threat of disclosure to keep them in line.

In local politics in this part of the Westcountry most of the councillors are "independents" though it isn't too hard to see that they are generally right-wing and would align themselves with the Tories when push comes to shove. An ostensibly non-party system would, I fear, produce a similar reversion to type. We'd also have candidates without a party machine behind them who would be too poor to afford an effective election campaign. Could push the country more to the right...

As for electing people to comply with our wishes, well I vote for the candidate who is more in line with my way of thinking than the others (though for years I've actually been prioritising keeping the Tories out). After that I expect him or her to become more expert than I am in matters politic and I don't necessarily expect them to comply with my wishes. If they don't to an intolerable degree I can vote them out next time. Far better if they act with integrity in what they judge to be the best interests of the country (even if it means putting me taxes up...)