I'm kind of addicted. I wish I could stop coming here, or at least have some self-discipline, but it hasn't worked. I'm aware of noprocrast and other technical means, but I just end up working around them to get at the website.
Otherwise, I come for the nuggets of useful information. I find them semi-frequently, so there is some positive to coming here.
Only the most relevant topics from the big tech news fanfare percolate inside HN; all the rest brings to the light a part of the tech web which would otherwise remain mostly unknown to me. HN us a community-driven curation process and it works because the community is great.
I'm interested in IT news and love to read the comments to get a feeling for the many different perspectives, pro and cons and experiences from insiders who worked with certain technologies. It feels genuine.
Otherwise, I come for the nuggets of useful information. I find them semi-frequently, so there is some positive to coming here.