This is an interesting/surprising reply to me, so I've spent some time thinking about it. The problem is that design is always a compromise between discoverabi

This is an interesting/surprising reply to me, so I've spent some time thinking about it. The problem is that design is always a compromise between discoverability and post-discovery efficiency. Consider the swipe-left-to-delete pattern. It's not discoverable, but once you've learned it, you wouldn't want it any other way. Designers sometimes compensate for the lack of discoverability by adding a slower but more discoverable way of doing the same thing, like an "Edit" button that reveals a delete button on every item. Thus making swipe-left-to-delete a non-critical feature, and a nicety for those who discover it. Another example is clickable usernames. We have an unspoken expectation that clicking a username in any app takes you to the user's profile. This expectation is so ubiquitous that apps (like HN) don't provide any additional indication that usernames are clickable. Imagine if every username on every app was a full blown bordered, textured button. Even someone with zero design sense would feel something's off. It simply isn't possible to maximize both discoverability and efficiency at the same time. Every feature needs to decide who it wants to cater to and who it's comfortable leaving behind.