The algorithmic perspective painstakingly analyzed here is that hotornot.com uses a 10-point ranking of hotties while pickthehottie.com uses dueling hotties to

The algorithmic perspective painstakingly analyzed here is that hotornot.com uses a 10-point ranking of hotties while pickthehottie.com uses dueling hotties to make for an easier rating by the user. The author used the latter approach for his Transformers picture rating site which replaces hotties with playthings. Add a provocative title on HN and, bingo, overnight millionaire.