If anyone is dense, it's you. It is certainly odd that the number of HN postings that follow the pattern "Company X raised $Y" far exceeds that of postings about revenue or profits, which are undeniably more important metrics for success. To some degree that can be explained by the fact that many incubated startups are legitimately in a phase where raising capital is important and revenue/profits not yet achievable. But why do we hear so little about later phases? IMO it's just as much a symptom of the dysfunctional aspects of the current startup scene that aims primarily towards acquisitions, where revenue, let alone profits, are ctively avoided because they're seen as an impediment to ridiculous acquisition valuations.
If you think that the goal of a startup is to get the highest possible hype-based acquisition valuation, sure. Call me naive, but I still believe that building an actual profitable business is a much better goal. It may not lead to crazy payouts, but it is also more honest and does not depend as much on timing a boom phase. I gather that this kind of thing is derisively called a "lifestyle business" in startup circles. I submit that at least it is actually a business, rather than a hand of hype poker.
