The evolution of Ars Technica into what it has become today is much of the reason why I'd much rather read HN.

More often than not, the technical discussions here flies way above my head, but at least (except for the political ones), i do not feel like everything has to be turned into a "Black vs White, Good vs Evil, Smart vs Stupid" destruction of the counter-arguing party's arguments, and I usually learn something valuable along the way.