HN is very intransparent when it comes to their rules or karma system. I'm aware that the code is in github, but we're talking about formal rules, not algorithms (and we don't know if that's all the code or only a part).
* How can a user find out if he/she is "HellBanned"?
* Is HN afraid of getting gamed?
* How is pg using the data generated at HN?
* Would HN/pg sell it's users if they were forced by the Government?
500 for user comments, as far as i know submissions can't be. That being said i know there are voting ring checks and other fuzzing going on where it might not actually be someone downvoting, but votes being counted differently all the sudden.
