We are talking from an HN user perspective, let's say you are right about YC startups having connections, so now would you stay in a place where people have connections and you don't ? It's like being the only poor in the land of the riches. You might stay for a while, but not for a long time
Nearix, there is no conspiracy here. By the way I don't have any connection to YC whatsoever. HN is not your normal tech news site. You and I, although not related to HN, have the chance to address an issue. There is no "editor".
However as already mentioned by other users, it is normal for people that are closer to YC, to cause a viral effect for people they know.
I suppose that what we have to consider(as general users of this site), is if we get valuable information from this site. I have been reading HN for about 2 years and I believe, it has been a good source of information. As all sources of information you have to consider the articles that are more relevant to you. Being "top" ranked in HN will not make your startup/application better if it doesn't benefit the user.
