Would you pay $5/yr for HN?
nickathens: The content is what makes this site interesting.  So I understand the concept but submit doing anything to discourage content is a bad business model.  I am primarily a reader or "lurker", but am also an ANGEL investor and CEO of my own self funded start up.So I would propose you develop a model that has a charge for reading that can be waived by posting credits.  So announce 6 months from now it is $5 a yr but by being active you can reduce the charge.  I realize lots of loop holes, but basically charge readers not content creators.