Ask HN: Why isn’t “reading comments” the default HN behavior?

[gcatalfamo]

I don’t have stats to confirm this but it seems a common habit for people here to read the comments page of a submission before opening the actual link.

If (IF!) that would be the case, why doesn’t opening comments is the default behavior of submission links instead of having to click the super tiny “Comments” link to the right?

[83]

Thats certainly my modus operandi - Load HN, hold down control, click on 'comments' links for articles I'm interested in.