The truth of the matter is that there are certain topics that heavily follow the HN hivemind, and there are certain topics that are highly polarized and endlessly debated. Hivemind example: remote work is good and companies that refuse to do it are stupid. Endlessly debated example: college degrees are useless.

Comments that disparage YC companies are often quickly hidden or buried as well.

I disagree. In fact, the topic of whether or not HN is biased towards YC / favors YC falls into the endlessly debated category.