I would never actually use the site like that. However defaults are important and that is the default view for a user who is not signed in. That design is so bad that I almost wonder if it is a dark pattern to get people to sign up/in just so they can save a preference to avoid that view.

> defaults are important and that is the default view for a user who is not signed in.

This is a good point. I never have my browser save cookies / cache information between sessions. Now when I visit reddit I need to tick the "change view" box every single time?

I agree that half the content being ads is pretty bad, but what makes the expanded view as a default so bad? I don't like it myself but e.g. 9gag is super popular and it uses this style.

I want to scan the headlines with my eyeballs, not the scroll bar.

I can't stand the expanded view, so I'm 100% on your side, just saying that the actual majority might not prefer it and consider it even bad.

It contains almost no relevant information

Those were only added after the initial wave of criticism on the new/default design.

Thanks! I never even noticed you could do that when they switched to the new design.