Sorry, but this isn't just a waitlist page, it first lets you give your input, then asks you to register, and then adds you to the waitlist, it just doesn't work.

If it didn't use the dark pattern, I would agree with you. Ask the user to generate input, then ask them to register, then inform them they can't use the service. Flagged.

We can try to get an Official Ruling but I'm pretty sure you're wrong about this. Waitlist signups are heavily moderated, almost always right off the front page, whether they are in Show HN or not. Waitlists are highly flaggable, pretty much like pre-nouncements which get the same moderation treatment.

Tangent fight: people should flag more, not less and the chances you get caught 'misflagging' a front-page article are pretty close to nil probably because, as you say, it doesn't matter that much.

https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=1&prefix=true&que...

Edit: nvm, it's already in the hadith and alwayshasbeen.gif

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22124736

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14310713