It would require same amount of scrolling, you can't have lines that long to keep it easily readable anyway.

What I don't like it's alighned to right, I prefer to read centered text, but it's their website, so whatever, if I don't like it I can just close it (or could try to block picture element through UBO).

edit: tried to block all elements on the left including header, but it's still aligned to right just leaving big dark left column

It also seems to do some shenanigans that show a history of 4 of the same page (I think) and require hitting back 4 times to get back to HN

Not to state the bleedin' obvious, but I will - the point of the UX is that the site adapts to the device being used. And it adapts well. The large image on the left in desktop mode is certainly different, but I like the execution personally.

Sounds like you're getting tablet layout on mobile?

That's when you're glad you're running a firefox variant and hit "Ctrl+Alt+R" to switch to reader view.