I like reading comments here, and still find that (recurring) view a bit offputting. I also like reading comments at Slashdot, though it does indeed have a different feel. Probably a lower S/N ratio, but also a broader range of knowledgeable people. I don't have any census data, but it feels like HN's expertise is highly concentrated in the software space, while a Slashdot story on an appropriate topic can elicit knowledgeable posts from ChemEs, MechEs, biologists, etc.