> I was still allowed to read HN, just not to comment, as the latter tends to waste the most time.

I'm going through the opposite: I read HN for years, but never commented, mostly because I found if you wait long enough someone will eventually say what you were going to say anyway. But then I realised the reason I came to HN was for the quality of the comment threads, and thought why not contribute?

I'm still undecided as to whether this was the right decision.