[wikwocket]

An alternative explanation is that perhaps HN is user-hostile because it respects the community. I sometimes get the vibe that HN is deliberately rough around the edges so that anyone who stays here and participates is doing so because they love the content and the community, not because the site is pretty or because they like gaining karma points.

Personally I'm of the opposite camp, that it's nice to make your app/site as easy on the eyes and sensibilities as possible, but then HN is not exactly trying to grow or get a million members or sell anything. It's just here to foster constructive discussion of hacker-related news.