If the first point just happens on HN, that wouldn't preclude the second and third point, right?

So -- possibly superfluous, yes.

(EU person myself)

The key is accessibility - what relevant communication do you get out of Hacker News? If HN DOES fulfil your needs, then great. If, like many of us, local matters then Hackful is extremely exciting IF we can get the community owning/using it.