Jack from wantobuy here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11477823 - also somewhere on the first page - I agree with you Vishal and abhi3.

Moreover, we were rejected the standard YC way too but have got some really great feedback from the HN community which we're implementing already!

I just think the whole Apply HN buzz fizzled out, favouring those that got in on day 1..we were about a week late..