Not sure when they added this (maybe season 10) , but you can mute in game by default. I use it. You can still see pings and emotes. When someone is obviously griefing with pings, I mute them completely.
The game is a much better experience that way. Chat in that game is overrated. Plus without all the none sense people spew in chat it’s easier to find flash and summoner timers
That’s actually where I started my moba journey. Was huge HotS player. Mained tanks like Mura, Etc and Garosh. Then Blizzard killed that esports scene 2 weeks after saying they were doubling down on it at blizzcon. Never have a been that mad at a company. I quit blizzard games after that.
Going to League of Legends was a tough switch. Really helped that the League esports scene is a ton of fun. Though it seems having the esports tied money is starting to make that scene die a slow death too.