[mixedbit]

My impression is that ranking algorithm, as described in the HN FAQ, is too simplistic, and as a result luck is too important factor in many HN submissions.

The more advanced algorithm would be for example to identify a set of HN users that actively up vote stories, and do not only follow links that already have a lot of votes; each new submission could be then injected to the front page of several random users from such set. With such approach, all new stories would have more or less equal exposure and equal chances of being noticed.