I agree but wouldn't say it is anything specific to Hacker News. Honesty and plain language for these types of releases is generally only appreciated when there is an ability to work in a self-deprecating angle, or cast the message into the form of a reasonable request for forgiveness (which is, essentially, asking people a favor). eg:
"Sorry, we fucked up by doing this, that and the other thing. We will try not to fuck up again. Please bear with us."
People like that.
"We're taking away access to something you might use and like because we don't make any money from it."
People don't like that. Since the nature of the message isn't in-line with asking for forgiveness or asking for a favor (which people love, see: the Ben Franklin effect), the bluntness reads like "Fuck you, because we can".
"Sorry, we fucked up by doing this, that and the other thing. We will try not to fuck up again. Please bear with us."
People like that.
"We're taking away access to something you might use and like because we don't make any money from it."
People don't like that. Since the nature of the message isn't in-line with asking for forgiveness or asking for a favor (which people love, see: the Ben Franklin effect), the bluntness reads like "Fuck you, because we can".