Actually, HN has a much better system. Comments from new accounts, like your throwaway, are dead by default, but any user can opt in to seeing dead posts, and any user with a small amount of karma can vouch those posts, reviving them. Like I just did to your post.
New account comments are not dead by default, they just render the author name in green.
Also @dang answers emails and always replies fairly and thoughtfully, because he is mindful of creating a better community.