You know what's funny?
All toons start out without sound and nobody seems to have a problem with it.
Being without whatever gag you choose, personally for me is no big deal.
I'll do a factory, mint, office or cog course with a soundless.
2 fogs and an elephant will take out 10s which will leave 2 11s and the soundless can always drop on one of the 11s, leaving 1 cog to battle.
Big Deal.
Even if there are 2 soundless, they can each take out a cog with their drop - again using strategy and teamwork.
I have one of the best players as a friend on pixanator who is soundless and there's no way I wouldn't battle without him, plus he recently just maxed Boss.
I personally do not have a soundless toon (yet) but I would make one and if people didn't want to battle with me, my attitude would be the same as the OP... their loss, not mine