In general I think what is so often missed on HN, which is so ironic given this is in big part a board for founders or those who aspire to be (I thought), is the challenge and effort and success of building companies and teams that execute on larger than life projects. It is incredibly hard to recruit the best talent in the world, and assemble them and make it work. The leader must be incredibly competent and believable to do that.
You left out a tier, and that's the embittered one with an axe to grind. It's the "nothing ever happens" crowd, and they want to destroy anyone who stands as a counterexample.
