Perhaps it's the tradeoffs that bother HN. For example, accepting "douchey anticompetitive moves" in exchange for utilising inevitable progress of the internet. One common response could be that the tradeoff isn't worth it; HN would be willing to sacrifice utilising the progress being made in exchange for avoiding the neverending "douchey anticompetitive moves". As I read these "nostalgic" comments, HN is not denying that progress is occurring. HN is questioning whether the tradeoff for utilising the progress, under "douchey anticompetitive" terms, is actually worth it. HN does not long for the level of progress of the 90/00's, it reminisces about the time before every iota of progress was extricably linked to "douchey anticompetitive moves".