Hey volare, I can see how it can easily happen, but please don't let any of these things confuse you:
- the links to current hacker related content
- a fairly sophisiticated way to present those links in an "optimal" manner
- discussion like you'll find nowhere else
- content from which to learn better hacking
- content from which to learn better business skills
- friendships & business contacts tough to make other places
- people who put in a lot of TLC to maintain all of the above
Make no mistake about it, this is supposed to be a community of doers, not lookers.
You have made some astute observations and provided interesting feedback, but I'm concerned that you're missing the point...
If you notice so much about Hacker News that needs refining, then you're probably paying too much attention. Come here for your break then leave and put that energy of yours where it belongs, on your own project.
This site, although not ideal, is pretty good. Let's all stop worrying about what we might be missing here and focus on what we are missing with our own sites.