I don't understand the hate of the diggbar, reddit's had something like that forever & I actually used to use it and liked it (6 -10months ago, reddit completely deteriorated so I don't really go there anymore); I wish HN had one.
Here's how I use aggregators:
1. Load up the page
2. Skim the headlines, opening each one in a new tab
3. Read the tabs
The bar allows me to then vote up the story after I've read it and get to the comments page.
On HN I have to open 2 tabs one for the story and one for the comments.
I have the same usage pattern as you (and I would like to see a bar on HN as well), however there's a huge difference between Digg and Reddit in this regard: the Reddit bar is opt-in. If you haven't opted in, the URL will simply forward to the page, without ever showing the bar.
The Digg bar, in contrast, is on by default. You can shut it off, sure, but that's not how it is for new visitors, which may have gotten the link.
So yeah, it's the same difference as between a useful newsletter and a spammer: opt-in vs. "opt-out".
Here's how I use aggregators: 1. Load up the page 2. Skim the headlines, opening each one in a new tab 3. Read the tabs
The bar allows me to then vote up the story after I've read it and get to the comments page.
On HN I have to open 2 tabs one for the story and one for the comments.