>It is the site's job (HN's job) to provide usable links to its readers.
No, the site's job is to aggregate links and provide a platform for discussion. Providing usable links is the responsibility of the people posting the links - other readers. Links which don't generate quality discussion will be killed any number of ways, but the quality of user-generated content is entirely on the users generating it.
In this case, the value of being able to discuss certain kinds of content with minor workarounds is greater than not having that content at all.
No, the site's job is to aggregate links and provide a platform for discussion. Providing usable links is the responsibility of the people posting the links - other readers. Links which don't generate quality discussion will be killed any number of ways, but the quality of user-generated content is entirely on the users generating it.
In this case, the value of being able to discuss certain kinds of content with minor workarounds is greater than not having that content at all.