Even early HN ca. 2008 felt a bit like that. But honestly i don't have the feeling that much changed and i've been lurking on HN pretty much since since the beginning as a kid.
Yeah and it's been getting gentrified since.
It sucks that a bunch of nimbys came here and threw everyone fun out.
Hell even pg would get flagged off hn if he said the stuff he used to in the 00s.