Detaching a post from its parent and marking it as off-topic seems to me a pretty pusillanimous semantic difference to outright deletion. Context is key to comp

Detaching a post from its parent and marking it as off-topic seems to me a pretty pusillanimous semantic difference to outright deletion. Context is key to comprehension. My notion comes from a direct quote from you, dang. Our discussion on the subject several days ago. I don't mean to impugn you or the moderation of HN in general. I'll just re-iterate what I said then: I understand what you want but I find it sterile and incompatible with my personal values as should others and I encourage you to re-examine the goals you have for discussion on the site.