Ninite is great and has saved me time in the past. What exactly does this have to do with the article? Are you implying that since Y Combinator funded non-junk applications that it's okay to now fund junk applications?
You're acting like Ninite can be used to install and remove any crapware from any installation under the sun. In reality Ninite only works with a select handful of applications. In other words, Ninite does not solve the problem that companies like InstallMonetizer create.
Except that, for most users, ninite provides (or, their goal is to provide) the installers necessary for the main pieces of software that cause these problems in the first place.
I think he was saying it was kind of a humorous contrast with YC essentially funding companies that compete in a way. The nerdy conclusion of this discussion would lead to a battle of the two platforms, one trying to install spam-ware and the other trying to prevent it...
In places like Afghanistan, we actually put our own troops there, pay for PMCs and local national forces, and fund the enemy (Taliban, not AQ) via our supply contracts. That's even worse than just selling guns to everyone; we pay them both and then also sell them guns.
It's nice move to fund both junk and solution for the junk... Some people say that antivirus software companies are the ones that make viruses, you know...
The problem is deceptive software. That we're funded by YC (or that InstallMonetizer is) is a red herring. But it sure does get some clicks!
On a perfect version of HN the top comments would be about solving the problems in posts, not elaborating on them.
Not to dump on HN though. This is a bug in human nature.
Glad to hear you like Ninite and that we saved you time, thanks for using it!