[wolco]

It's gamed but not by the mods. Not even sure in a bad way.

User posts story to blog and includes hn link in an email blast. Followers upvote quickly then the article slowly losses interest.

But catchy title gives more attention. Podcast during a workday means more bookmarking for the ride home.

[keanzu]

I think that everything you've described here is "fair game" and mechanisms available to all of us.