I agree somewhat with you, though. If the app were free, I'd install it in a heartbeat. I'd wish there were a way to select it now for installation on my home machine before I get home, if that were possible.
With a price on it, I suddenly have to go through the hassle of attaching a payment method to my Windows Store account (something which I've been EXTREMELY hesitant to do). It's enough of a barrier to entry that I am likely to fob it off as something to do Later (as I can read HN quite well in my browser), rather than go through that added hurdle.
If I already had payment info entered for my Store account, that barrier to me buying it would be much lower: rather than having to consider both the time and money investment, I'd only have to say "Eh, it's a buck fifty", and would be much more likely to buy it. As it is, my interest has waned from "I must install this yesterday" to "I'll have to think about it".
