Yeah that sounds exactly like what XDA does. (Which is inclusive and not good for new users.)
From what I understand about XDA it prevents new users from posting, while HN classic provides a feed (for those who know the url, it isn't linked anywhere) which doesn't have the submissions from new users in them. This is something that has been around for a long time at HN and very few people use it.
No problem, reading it back it was easy to take a way other than i intended. I do agree that hamstringing users by taking away basic functionality isn't desirable.
I brought up XDA because I know nothing much about what they do (had to rely on Google for romming my tablet) and wanted to join and participate in the low level conversations. I was hamstrung and frustrated, so I left. (Just an insight to my brief time with XDA)