It is interesting how derisive your comment is compared to those who are in support of interesting and diverging content.
I am, however a bit confused by your comment as I have read several posts this week that had absolutely nothing to do with software/technology and most interestingly only two having to do anything with a compiler. Are you saying we should only post about compilers.
I am waiting to be enlightened by your list of acceptable topics and content.
I mean, you guys don't even try to hide it.
But I do get where you're coming from. Whenever a topic like this comes up a Christian will inevitably show up to proselytize (it should be considered a corollary to Godwin's Law.)
The only reason these stories get upvoted is because of that audience you mentioned.
On-Topic: Anything that good hackers would find interesting. That includes more than hacking and startups. If you had to reduce it to a sentence, the answer might be: anything that gratifies one's intellectual curiosity.
This satisfies people's intellectual curiosity, therefore it's "Hacker News."