It is very dishonest. Trying to make this into Apple vs Google creates this false reality that only movies get away with.

Nearly two times the size so we can make up a story of selected truths?

Should the headline have disclosed every single tie every person associated with each organization has? No that would be absurd - you can’t disclose the nuance of a story in a headline so you disclose the most interesting thing. Nothing in the headline was false or misleading - just because the groups have other ties too doesn’t mean the headline has to list every one of them.

Since when did the HN crowd start being apologists for clickbait and purposeful omission?

Clickbait is simply the new normal. I hate it, but it's simply the case. You see it on news articles, YouTube video titles, and everything else where money and views are intertwined.

And why is it done? Because it has been proven to work. They make more money with clickbait titles.

Personally, it's simply a windmill I'm no longer willing to tilt against.

And it appears that nothing was purposefully omitted from the article itself, so I'm definitely not willing to tilt against this.