How about this solution to improve the readability of HN threads, without degrading the quality of comments/discussion?

1. Show comment-ranges. (1-, 0, 1, 2-10, 10-50 etc.), instead of absolute values. This indicates the quality of a comment, without promoting/prompting voting, based on existing votes (that much.)

2. Do not show username (use a placeholder for profile link). This will solve the problem of "instinctive" up(/down?)voting from commenter's fan base.

3. Any related changes required in the UX, to bubble the better comments more visibility.