You are reading too much into these comments, I think. Just because there are some annoyances on HN doesn't mean it is the embodiment of pure evil.

> Imagine where you'd be forced to go if HN didn't exist, for example.

A better HN. It is possible: HN was such a place a couple years ago. And it can only get worse if the community keeps taking itself too seriously to allow even light-hearted criticism.