I could not agree more. If the op isn't comfortable airing the laundry here, then join a resistant force and do it there (GitHub).

While it wouldn't help the community, it would help the quality of content to hackers if we open sourced something like a user script to override HN's algorithm and simply blanket out this entire consortium.

An explicit, and specific blacklist for these jokers along with their snake oil websites and ideas. Oh? You're offended by your being listed on The Blacklist? Earn our trust back so we could pay a small bit of mind to your vaporeware or opinion like we used to, when we called it vaporeware and a bad opinion.

I apologize for the rant, but at least i'm offering an idea to put the brakes on the gradual degradation of this website.

I agree. There's no reason why this should continue once it's been outed like this.

Agree, name and shame. If people believe there is a significant risk to their reputation in the community, that alone can function as a deterrent.

Agree.

Or, at the very least, send a short email to PG with the names. And I guess Reddit has a useful contact for this kind of organised voting ring.