Here's how you can say the same in a more positive manner:
> This is neat, and it would be even better if there was feedback when…
To keep up the hacker spirit, I find it amusing that the words "but" and "and" are logically equivalent (i.e. they both are representations of the logical ∧ operator), just with different connotations. :)
(Edit: It's actually a social hack to say your negatively toned "but" phrase with a positive "and" instead.)
another example of the HN changes around here.
Interpreted that way, it's fine constructive feedback. But it's easy to see how it would be taken as a self-entitled complaint.
What I say is that it's very disappointing that this demo goes 95% of the way to create something AWESOME, but those 5% it goes short are very stark and unfortunate. It's like a brand new Ferrari with a scratch. Wouldn't that be disappointing? Even though it's a Ferrari which is awesome.
The problem is that feelings are 95% positive and 5% negative, but my comment is 50/50. So it may seem that I'm being negative, when in fact I'm 95% positive. Hence those missing 5% are so disappointing.
Great job though, it's really neat (this goes without saying...).
Edit: The reason I talk about the negative is because it can be made better. I find it less useful to talk about positive because it's already good, so there's nothing to be done.