A few things come to mind, strictly for discussion/entertainment and w/o knowing the level of seriousness in your comment. Although there is a hint of truth obviously I'd love to be part of YC as well.

The first is "why buy the cow if the milk is for free"? The second is how I'm reminded of women that never get their long time boyfriend to marry them because there is no line in the sand, no deadline, no imperative to make a decision or do anything.

To wit: "I'm here until Paul Graham offers me...". People need a reason to make a decision and to do something. (Not that you can say "if/then" or anything.)

For all I know of course you have had discussions with Paul or someone else about a YC slot or are totally joking. (I can only speculate and offer thoughts in case anyone is still awake in the thread my thoughts).

I do plenty negotiating and I've never closed a deal w/o having a time limit (in which of course the bluff sometimes goes bust obviously but that's the risk of the game). I never ever leave something open ended unless I don't want someone to make a decision because I am trying to buy some time while waiting for someone else.

My point of course is not that you could ever say "make me YC or..". Just that there is no clear reason for PG to do anything and make a decision.

I'm kidding. The short answer to why I don't set up my own site is, I'm here almost entirely because I wanted to avoid having a site tied around my own identity / personal brand. I had a reasonably popular blog before HN, and fled to HN from it.