This is a great hack, but a terribly dangerous idea. I have trouble enough avoiding HN when I open a browser... now the thing is looming over me at all times. Sorry, I don't have the willpower for this.
It actually has a better influence on me. I don't worry about opening it on the browser all the time. And somehow, I don't click the button as often as I used to open the HN homepage.
I'm going to try this, I think it will actually HELP. I always find myself mindlessly ctrl+t and typing news..<enter> when I open a new browser window.
If you have to type "news", you're better off than I am. "n" does it for me.
You're right, just tested. "n" gets it. I probably get to "ne" or "new" before realizing it. :(
Try to hide the bookmarks bar. This helped me a lot.