But the actual HN comments don't mention that. They only ever mention that he wants them released, but never why.

It's a fact that a lot of HN readers never actually click through to read the articles people post anyway, so most people go by the contents of the comments not the articles.

I'd bet you anything that most people who read this thread didn't click through and read that article itself, which is why I quoted it. Now they damn well know what it says.