> ... sometimes a discussion isn't just about the
  > topic, but the specific coverage of the topic.

That is exactly my point. I'd like to have a way of linking together the different discussions as related to the different ways the topic has been reported. I'd like to see the ability to create a "link node" of some description that allows the different submissions to be found from each other. Perhaps just a meta-submission that has the different submissions of the same story linked in, by hand, as children. Then we can go to the parent of a submission to find other submissions of the same story, each possibly with a different slant, each possibly with a different discussion.

Some people - llambda particularly in my experience - think that HN is fine as it is and should be left alone - nothing can improve it. My engineering and entrepreneurial instincts are, however, screaming at me that the experience can be significantly improved, and information made easier to find.

I'd've liked to have seen it tried, but it would seem that a vocal minority want HN left exactly as it is.