I think this question would have been better via email to the mods. There's a good chance they would have reverted for you based on what you've mentioned in this particular instance. For what it's worth, while they are only human, I think the mods do a great job with both titles and (more rarely) changing URL.

When a URL is changed, it is a way of saying, 'Look, we think this other URL is better for the discussion', while keeping the discussion. Daniel does a great job of mentioning these changes in a comment - hardly ever to a complaint. https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=dang for some of Daniel's comments.

Title changes are also generally good ones. Often they happen in response to a complaint.

If you don't like it, email the mods with why!

They do a fantastic job. I approve of changing the titles (even silently) or URL's, especially with a comment. If you have a complaint do feel free to email the mods about it.

And here's a thanks to the great work the mods do and to hoping they will keep it up.

You're only reading Hacker News thanks to their tireless work.