Agreed. I open nearly every HN article from an unknown domain in incognito/private mode. At least half implement this kind of dark pattern.

I find it spectacularly baffling for this kind of content-marketing website, where income presumably does not come from advertising, nor trading in visitor data, but from their DBaaS. Why would such a company risk alienating their visitors like this? It makes me question the decision-making in their unrelated, primary service; their conscientiousness; even their security. Truly mystifying.