I know a lot of folks here are actual programmers (unlike me, I mean) and can nitpick anything to death, but maybe folks have missed the part about HN being a little side project that exists to serve the goals of YC? It isn't a high priority for PG. YC is the real business. This is a free service and it serves some of YC's needs but there are no ads, it isn't monetized, etc. Unlike some of the websites folks here own, it seems to me HN does not provide enough value for pg to justify jumping through hoops backwards, blindfolded and on fire to make folks here happy with some cutting edge, WOW! coding.
(Personal note: Now I feel better about my sites being laid out in tables. :-P)
(Personal note: Now I feel better about my sites being laid out in tables. :-P)