You planned that using logic, but people's emotions don't react to logic. It's an emotion after all. I thought it was obtrusive as well and didn't realize how far into the article I was. The only thought I had was "this is in my way and there's more to read."
All that being said, just do a split test :) Maybe people like me are in the minority and you get more upvotes for having it displayed that way.
All that being said, just do a split test :) Maybe people like me are in the minority and you get more upvotes for having it displayed that way.