I'm speaking to this discussion, not the submitted article. Sure, start with a web app (though it really depends on the target -- if the web app yields a sub-standard interface, performance, or utility it's a dead end) with hopes of building an app when you have an established base.

However in this discussion there are a lot of people who are arguing from the perspective of a world that doesn't exist, based upon the same "this changes everything" argument we've heard every year.

> I'm speaking to this discussion, not the submitted article.

Precisely my point. That's not what the OP was saying. Per their comment: to get people to install your app just to try it out.

> based upon the same "this changes everything" argument we've heard every year.

Did we read the same comment? Where did the OP write "this changes everything"?

You're using OP to mean "the root-level HN comment" where @endorphone thought you meant TFA.

I am, but they're both making the same point, so it's kinda moot.