After all HN is a forum with lots of programmers, which may feel that this landing page image is insulting.

It's not that I'm against the concept itself, since I wanted to test the product immediately after I read the headline here, but that image instantly killed off any desire to try it.

I second DominikR: img/bg.jpg was really a turn off (and I like to think I'm smack in the middle of the apparently intended target audience)

It might be a little bit aggressive, but the core point "because it serves no purpose, nor does it solve any problems" is totally valid.