Interesting take. I suppose it could be done, though I don't know if anyone has tried to use it that way. Let's say that an article has 50 upvotes and 20 comments. Posting 31 comments, without tripping any spam/bot detectors HN has, is going to be tedious, and may take several people. But with enough determination and people, it could probably be done - if the idea occurred to anyone else.
By the way, I think it's more than "interesting theory". I've seen dang comment more than once to the effect that comments > upvotes = off the front page.
By the way, I think it's more than "interesting theory". I've seen dang comment more than once to the effect that comments > upvotes = off the front page.