I think in HN's case, it pays for itself with intangible branding factors so there is really no need to monetize and like you said, it maintains the integrity o

I think in HN's case, it pays for itself with intangible branding factors so there is really no need to monetize and like you said, it maintains the integrity of the site. But I was thinking along the lines of a startup. HN's model is so excellent I think it could be applied to a number of niche topics. It would be interesting to know though, to what extent a site like HN could make money if that were its goal.