How do we get past the message that asks us to pay? I think that should be the default way of posting behind-paywall content to HN. Doesn't make sense to say "Hey, why don't you pay $12 to check out this post?"
Open the link in a private tab. It works for me. As this is the end of the month, you've probably used up your monthly allotment of free NYT articles.
If you phone in and haggle they will give you the sub for 99 cents.
I don't see how it is unfair for a website to ask for a payment in exchange for access to its content.
Maybe HN should allow to add a [paywall] tag so you know what you are in for.