I agree with that the size of HN helps with the goal of maintaining quality. I have always loved being able to visit digg/reddit and get more socially-involved content, then visiting HN and being able to get more professionally-involved content.
One thing I have noticed that could be good or bad depending on the situation, but sometimes good posts I notice in new (technically relevant, different content that is truly interesting) doesn't make it to the front page. However, every 3rd+ Tech Crunch article does.
Well, I don't go to techcrunch or NYT on my own volition (okay NYT sometimes but never techcrunch) -- so any articles interesting enough to make news.yc are the only ones I read. therefore, I appreciate them. But yeah if they vanished I don't think I'd care.
One thing I have noticed that could be good or bad depending on the situation, but sometimes good posts I notice in new (technically relevant, different content that is truly interesting) doesn't make it to the front page. However, every 3rd+ Tech Crunch article does.