You may have something here. Maybe part of the reason that some of the older users (myself included) are becoming less satisfied with Hacker News is that we're starting to get restless. We already know that we want to work on startups, we already have some great tips and resources, we already know the power of high-level languages, and now we are just biding our time, waiting for... what?
I know that describes me, to some extent. For me, I think the original Startup News was liberating. It was a fresh voice I'd never heard before saying that I don't have to graduate school and go get a job in industry; I can actually do what I want and make a lot of money doing it. After a year of hearing that and getting some helpful tips along the way, perhaps it's just time for me to go do.
Hard to say... but lord knows I hope that you'll have a better idea as a result of perusing the better offerings of the site. I have found it useful to compare my performance against the theoretical optima that I see documented here, rather than just the work of other developers, in order to push myself. Hell, that's why I went back to grad school in the first place (and went into methodology, eventually succumbing to math envy, as it happens).
perhaps it's just time for me to go do.
If you look on the front cover of your copy of SICP, the little yin/yang has 'eval' and 'apply' halves. Another endlessly useful shorthand metaphor, IMHO... It's always tempting to go too far in one direction or the other, but fortune seems to favor those who balance the halves.
I know that describes me, to some extent. For me, I think the original Startup News was liberating. It was a fresh voice I'd never heard before saying that I don't have to graduate school and go get a job in industry; I can actually do what I want and make a lot of money doing it. After a year of hearing that and getting some helpful tips along the way, perhaps it's just time for me to go do.