Saddest part about that post was the implication that HN disavows self promotion.

Dude. HN is a hacker site. We build stuff -- build it, sell it, share it, talk about it. I've never threatened to leave HN but if I did, it would be if they had some policy banning self-promotion. This isn't some cute club of teenagers where you have to get a friend to submit a link and then the cool kids all have to like it. There are people, lots of people, who are supporting their families on the things they do and share here. Please. Self-promote. We'll downvote you if you get obnoxious, but that's about it.

I think the real problem was hinted at in the article: that sort of ranting I've-figured-it-all-out-you-bunch-of-fools attitude. Over the years, I've found the board very unfriendly to people who come in with a flame thrower laying waste to those they're trying to engage. Yes, you can certainly talk about how unhealthy we all are, been done a million times, but not so much on the miracle cures and how we're a bunch of ingrates who won't listen to reason. That's a good way to get a virtual punch in the nose.