[al_borland]

I think this is done to discourage text posts and encourage linking to an original source. This way HN links to good and interesting things, rather than being the site holding these things. We can see how the latter can go poorly with how things have gone with Reddit.

[adrianwaj]

Can't it go darker at some point? The age/flags/upvotes/favorites - it'd be obvious when it's safe to do so. Question for the mods.