I would point out technology and the Internet played an important if not vital role in the events of Egypt and Tunisia.
Technology and the Internet play a vital role in pretty much everything these days. What will HN cover next - a Tea Party rally, if it was announced on Twitter?
Come on now. Don't be so facetious. What chance do you honestly think a Tea Party rally has of maintaining a top spot on the HN front page? We are talking about historic events here.
(and, no, me checking my email this morning is not also a "historic event" ;)
Agreed, the question on the y combinator app (though I've never seen it so I may be misquoting) is something akin to "name a non-computer system that you have hacked".