It's really confusing that you complained that no one is discussing the architectural decisions separating kernel from init but then you link to a comment that discusses "1) systemd's bad programming taste and complexity, and 2) Lennart Poettering's inability to admit when he is wrong." Your (second) link is 75% about the interpersonal failings of Poettering and 0% about the separation of kernel and init.

Also with respect to your comment: "I am disgusted to report that ... the 2 above-linked comments are the sum total of actual replies to the content Linus was trying to discuss." Linus did not post this here and in no way was attempting to discuss this with the HN crowd. cnst posted this with the intention of discussing Linus's apparent distrust of init.