Yes. I would like a mode for HN and Reddit where only top-level comment are visible and threads must be expanded explicitly, with the same true recursively. I

Yes. I would like a mode for HN and Reddit where only top-level comment are visible and threads must be expanded explicitly, with the same true recursively. If I'm not interested in a comment, then I'm not interested in its replies either. I've never understood why comments are treated differently from posts in this regard. The front page isn't presented with all comments expanded.