Rewriting something in some hipster language du jour is not a newsworthy event. Writing yet another blog platform (there must be thousands by now), let alone a "minimal" one, is not a newsworthy event. This froth just pollutes the stream. I've been reading this site for years, but "I wrote X in obscure language Y" garbage finally made me register. It's not the tools you have, it's what you do with the tools you have.
I don't think the claim with such posts is that they're newsworthy, just that they're fun or interesting (for some).
It's better for the emotional aspect of technical work to be out in the open, instead of rationalizing itself surreptitiously, as it usually has to—leading to such unproductive phenomena as (a) the sober engineering analysis that just happens to conclude that the best choice for X is programmer's favorite; and (b) the intellectual depression that comes from prolonged working with tools that give one no pleasure. "There is no play in them," as Thoreau said.
The need for play is deep and should be accommodated, since it affects things whether we want it to or not. I think if one revises one's model of software economics to include this factor then the yet-another projects you're criticizing come out looking pretty different. Also the HN connection is clear—this is a site where gratifying curiosity and creative impulses is celebrated. No justification required.
But I'm glad you've registered anyhow. Hopefully you'll discuss some of the things that gratify you!
