I think the large, bold story numbers draw too much attention that would otherwise be focused on the headlines. What a story is about is more important, and contains more information, than its ranking on the front page.
Hacker News may not be all that pretty, but it's designed to bring out the important parts and communicate them quickly. Less relevant, less commonly accessed bits or information like numbers and usernames are available but don't stand out.
Comments
I think the large, bold story numbers draw too much attention that would otherwise be focused on the headlines. What a story is about is more important, and contains more information, than its ranking on the front page.
Hacker News may not be all that pretty, but it's designed to bring out the important parts and communicate them quickly. Less relevant, less commonly accessed bits or information like numbers and usernames are available but don't stand out.