Not explicitly, but I never said configuring or using i3 was simple. It is a very valid point, but is does not refute the fact that i3 is itself simple.
> You made no indication that your recommended replacement offers no way to hot plug a monitor, connect to the internet, or even launch an arbitrary application
I should have written more originally yes, but I have since given my recommendations for these. So why bring it up again?
> Making this sort of recommendation is throwing the user headfirst into a painful situation likely to give them an extremely negative impression of i3.
This is Hackernews and I was replying to knowledgeable posters. I think it is safe to assume they will look into it first without getting into a "painful situation".
Although you do raise some good points, I feel it is your posts that have given an overly negative impression of i3.
You replied suggesting a specific window manager (a single component within a desktop environment) to a post lamenting the rough edges in popular modern DEs. You made no indication that your recommended replacement offers no way to hot plug a monitor, connect to the internet, or even launch an arbitrary application without installing and potentially configuring additional packages. These are very basic features folks have come to expect in a DE.
Making this sort of recommendation is throwing the user headfirst into a painful situation likely to give them an extremely negative impression of i3.