[______1]

Most people that use Imgur share the direct link to the image. When the direct link is used no ads are displayed.

[ShaneOG]

Unless you access the "direct" link via Facebook or Twitter. In which case you are redirected to the standard page

[zimpenfish]

It's a wise choice - the comments are often terrifying.

[giarc]

In design or quality?

I commented on an image I posted once. I was horrified to find that you had to individually expand each child comment. Doesn't allow for much discussion.

[claudius]

There’s an ‘Expand all comments’ link. Personally I find the community there to be a nice complement to HN. Less serious, less important issues, more usable when tired.

[zimpenfish]

Quality. It's often "sketchy at best".

As for design, there's "Expand All" up the top right of the comments. But yes, the "hidden by default" arrangement is a bit nuts.

[______1]

I find it just as surprising that HN doesn't allow you to collapse a comment chain. I use a GreaseMonkey script to do it on my desktop, but when browsing from a mobile device I have to scroll down until I can find the next root comment.