I agree, but not because every participant wants in to YC. PG is the guiding anchor for the site. It's similar to how people speculate Digg would be different w

I agree, but not because every participant wants in to YC. PG is the guiding anchor for the site. It's similar to how people speculate Digg would be different without Kevin Rose. These site creators are hosts. It's like going to someone's house; while you may be allowed to wander around your behavior will generally reflect the values of the host. The quality of HN is a flattering testament to the high bar set by having PG as host, as well as deliberate measures implemented to defend against degradation.