1. The comments on paywalled articles are often (as is the case for this particular story) useful and interesting even if you have not read the article. I don't see why we should be deprived of an interesting thread just because some people might not have access to the article.
2. No one has to read every HN submission and participate in every thread. If a particular thread does require reading the article to get much out of the thread, do what I do--skip it.
3. If #2 is happening a lot with articles from a particular paywalled source, and it sounds like I really would have enjoyed or found the thread useful, that provides a strong hint that maybe that source is one that I should considered subscribing to.
2. No one has to read every HN submission and participate in every thread. If a particular thread does require reading the article to get much out of the thread, do what I do--skip it.
3. If #2 is happening a lot with articles from a particular paywalled source, and it sounds like I really would have enjoyed or found the thread useful, that provides a strong hint that maybe that source is one that I should considered subscribing to.