Okay, just curious, as I wasn't sure if it was an attack on the article or in agreement with that. (It's been my experience that quite a few people just read the title and make snide comments, it's one of the things I dislike most about HN.)

Indeed, I find that it's used so much and in so many different ways that I really wish it'd fall out of favor. It now carries so many connotations and subtleties that linguistically speaking, it always seems like the "wrong tool for the job."

most of those are due to the refusal to use the word "cracker" for the connotations and subtleties that require it.