Sorry, I assumed that a thread being detached for being off-topic meant that the off-topic discussion could continue. I'll stop if that's not the case and will take note accordingly. I'd appreciate a lift of the posting time limit too. I'll just play safe and avoid any sort of contentious posting going forward. Argument isn't the main reason I come to HN, after all.
23 comments about this in a single thread, let alone this thread, is beyond the pale.