I've come to view this qualifier as HN's answer to LinkedIn's humblebrag.

Note I am guilty of using that qualifier once or twice prior to stating a popular opinion on HN...

I tend to downvote the "this will probably be downvoted but..." comments (except when it's an extraordinarily insightful comment).

Just leave that sentence out. It adds nothing to the discussion.

Yeah, any complaint/presaging about imaginary internet points gets an automatic downvote from me.