Just like there are examples of companies/products that have become wildly successful without outside capital, or perhaps without a technical cofounder or without reading any books about Lean methodology or without ever reading a single PG essay, that is not evidence that any of those things are detrimental to one's success. Resources like HN, etc are just like any other resource- you have to filter your exposure, sift through the useless and apply your own judgment as to the appropriateness for your particular situation. They are distractions if you allow them to be and tools if you will them to be.