Agreed. I tried news:yc out for the first time yesterday and wound up deleting the app pretty quickly. The toolbar at the bottom was probably the biggest thing other I didn't like. It just felt wrong.
I can't fix it without any help: I want to make something that's a pleasure to use. If you have improvements or even just issues with the choices I've made, could you submit an issue so I can fix them?
I'll reinstall on the simulator and make a few notes for you later today.
Could you elaborate? I've read the entire HIG multiple times. Feel free to post an issue on GitHub if you have any changes that would make it better...