Better yet - Allow reddit-style promoted posts on relevant subjects. Make them behave like those locked "XYZ is hiring" posts - start on top and drop a couple

Better yet - Allow reddit-style promoted posts on relevant subjects. Make them behave like those locked "XYZ is hiring" posts - start on top and drop a couple of positions per hour. Except allow the comments too. Limit the number of spots to one or two per day and auction them off. That should greatly help with launching projects on HN, which seems to be an emerging trend that is not likely to be going anywhere soon.