> HN isn't that far in terms of design either.
HN does get called out for that, and additionally, HN is not presenting a critique on communication.
> Curious to know what minimum formatting you expect.
For a CS professor? Little to none. For a CS professor that is providing criticisms in how papers are presented as "sins"? A minimal amount of formatting to provide some readability, such as what they would likely critique in any paper they expected others to read, would be a good minimum.
As I noted in another reply, once you start critiquing communication issues, you're fair game. Otherwise, I could care less, and I'm not usually one to complain about site design or usability, because honestly I generally prefer it somewhat minimal (but "minimal" that becomes "somewhat unreadable" over time is something that can and should be avoided).