Have you considered asking new users to enter their first and second names, and creating an available username from that?
This is often credited for Facebook having more 'real' content than MySpace and Friendster.
This is often credited for Facebook having more 'real' content than MySpace and Friendster.
As you've touched on, allowing people to find you on hacker news would also be a benefit.
Next I'll see a reply from cyberguppy.