I prefer this format to Twitter but I hate the up and down vote system. I think having comment trees that work in thread like forums work out of thread. Namely, heavily discussed comments sit at the top, or get bumped there after someone comments to go along with how forums usually work.

The voting system gives the illusion of activity but really it's constantly gamed whether by admins or outside forces. I preferred forums working off comment activity rather than by lurkers voting for headlines.