Ask HN (and pg): Move reply button for denser threads?

I was scrolling through a lengthy HN thread when I realized that each comment's reply button has a whole line to itself. If it were moved above the comment to the header like this,

  1 point by evanrmurphy 2 minutes ago | link | reply

instead of below as it is now, then more comments could fit on one screen. This way longer threads would be easier to take in, because you'd have to page down fewer times to get through them. Disadvantages could include decreased readibility with the removed whitespace and the reply button no longer being where your reply goes (i.e. below the comment) which is a nice touch!

Do you think this would be an improvement?