This shadow rate-limiting is so disgusting. The user doesn't know about it, she writes a comment or submit a news and sees a info message "slow down" which makes no sense at all (2 comments per day displays it, yah). A rough mod rate-limited my account, some years ago to only 2 comments per day. And there is no way to recover the account.
HN doesn't support free speech, very unfortunate that pg isn't around anymore to sweep up. It turned from startup, SV and VC news to a popular but unfocused news site, sponsored by whoever.
Sure there's a way to recover it - you email [email protected]. Of course, considering you were actually banned a couple of weeks ago, the mods may not be in the mood for unrestricting your account.
As for the site having turned from "startup, SV and VC news to a popular but unfocused news site" after pg left, a quick look at pg's own submissions shows that he didn't think this site was supposed to be all about SV/VC news: https://news.ycombinator.com/submitted?id=pg
Generally though, isn't it obvious that YC-backed companies will get some extra perks on HN? I don't see what you were hoping to gain by your 'sockpuppet' investigation.
For what it's worth, based on your recent comment history I do think you've been unfairly targeted. Hopefully this can be resolved over email.
HN doesn't support free speech, very unfortunate that pg isn't around anymore to sweep up. It turned from startup, SV and VC news to a popular but unfocused news site, sponsored by whoever.