I think it gives the site a feel more like MetaFilter. Exactly as you say, your ...

anateus on April 13, 2011 | parent | context | favorite | on: Another Way to View the "Decline" of HN

I think it gives the site a feel more like MetaFilter. Exactly as you say, your impetus to post is stripped of the karma motivation, and becomes more purely affected by actually wanting to make a contribution.