I don't consciously or systemically apply any heuristics, but if I think back on the topics that tend to pique my interest: Business and VC, economics, infosec,

I don't consciously or systemically apply any heuristics, but if I think back on the topics that tend to pique my interest: Business and VC, economics, infosec, tech politics, FL/OSS drama, psychology / human nature, and oddities that seem out of place here (because those stories must be especially interesting!). Occasionally web dev tools if they look like something I might use — for example, new static site generators. I nearly always read the comments first and rarely click through to the original story. The comments are the point of HN for me.