Are you so sure you really do know better?
> "I wake up every morning to HN and my eyes hurt."
And best of all, do some research on previous answers to this question and present a "proposal" that actually addressed the previous discussions.
Have you seen the HN HTML layout and CSS code?
I'm doing some research on previous posts regarding the HN interface, but judging by some answers i'm getting in this post i can imagine their fate, why plainly criticize instead of brainstorming about the proposed ideas and trying to get to a common ground? Maybe even some sketches done? (I'm working on mine as i write btw) ... according to you what are the aims and audience? I think you are implying you know the aims and audience better? can you please share? I'm part of the audience as well...
I've also seen this question many, many time, looked at the proposed "improvements," and read the many discussions about the whole issue. Broadly speaking, lots of people have preferred the existing version to those proposed, often by a substantial margin. Regularly people say that it looks horrible, never have a seen something I prefer.
Feel free to try. Good luck.
The title> "Why is HN so ugly..."
Is a statement, more than either a proposal or a question.
It's also presumptuous.
Minimalism is a feature.
Like exclusivity.
> ... just wanted to get your attention and
> looks like i have, so mission accomplished!