This is a great point. I realized that changing both colors, like Apple did, was awful. I underestimated the degree to which changing background feels better

This is a great point. I realized that changing both colors, like Apple did, was awful. I underestimated the degree to which changing background feels better than changing text. Honestly, I don't think "too much contrast" is my biggest problem with black-on-white. It's the sea of #FFF that's unpleasant (with or without text), so something like HN's ~#EEE background feels way better to look at.