The arbitrary number rule very specifically calls out list type posts:
If the original title begins with a number or number + gratuitous adjective, we'd appreciate it if you'd crop it. E.g. translate "10 Ways To Do X" to "How To Do X," and "14 Amazing Ys" to "Ys." Exception: when the number is meaningful, e.g. "The 5 Platonic Solids."
The $15,000 doesn't seem to qualify.
That being said, you could certainly qualify it as linkbait, but why just take out the number? The simile is ruined, and the title just sounds stupid now. If you're going to edit it to make it not linkbait, change it to something like:
Hyperlapse, Instagram's new video stabilization app
Certainly you can moderate how you see fit, just thought I'd offer my 2 cents. I get annoyed when I come back to the same article I've already read with a different title so the inconsistency is frustrating sometimes. Sometimes arguably better titles get changed to match the source, and then when (someone else decides) the source has a bad title we change that too...
Yes, the arbitrary number guideline should be reworded. I've added that to my todo list.
We'll change the title to your suggestion. Thanks!
All: the best way to complain about a bad title is to suggest a better one. We see hundreds of articles and titles a day—the idea of getting all of those perfect is cruel. Therefore we're delighted to get help, as long as the principles are clear: an HN title should be accurate and neutral while staying as close to the article's own words as possible.
IMO there should be two titles, the resources given title and an editorial title which would at least initially be provided by the submitter if they felt the given title was not descriptive. That should curtail titular editorialisations.
If the original title begins with a number or number + gratuitous adjective, we'd appreciate it if you'd crop it. E.g. translate "10 Ways To Do X" to "How To Do X," and "14 Amazing Ys" to "Ys." Exception: when the number is meaningful, e.g. "The 5 Platonic Solids."
The $15,000 doesn't seem to qualify.
That being said, you could certainly qualify it as linkbait, but why just take out the number? The simile is ruined, and the title just sounds stupid now. If you're going to edit it to make it not linkbait, change it to something like:
Hyperlapse, Instagram's new video stabilization app
Certainly you can moderate how you see fit, just thought I'd offer my 2 cents. I get annoyed when I come back to the same article I've already read with a different title so the inconsistency is frustrating sometimes. Sometimes arguably better titles get changed to match the source, and then when (someone else decides) the source has a bad title we change that too...