I want to second your opinion/description as to the value of anonymous posts. (Interestingly, yet another "convention" on HN established in a de facto fashion

I want to second your opinion/description as to the value of anonymous posts. (Interestingly, yet another "convention" on HN established in a de facto fashion using the existing account mechanism.) However, I can also understand a polite invitation to follow-up privately, which is what I think mjfern was offering. No expectation that it will be accepted. From my experience, some people want to be anonymous against public discovery and connection to their identity but are not worried or adverse to private communication. (While others do want to remain wholly anonymous, to the extent HN offers such.)