Same here, and it is fun to see it not working after you have just reinstalled/started using a new computer, but after some days everything is the same and I'm in peace.. almost :)
Yes, sadly. On my machine it is win+w - n + enter (new browser + hn ). If you don't want to waste your whole day on HN try the procrast settings in your profile. What works for me is every 70 minutes I get 10 minutes HN.
I started developing a site which domain starts with "news". Sometimes in some mysterious way that is the first. :)
I will also fully admit to having closed an HN tab and then immediately opening a new HN tab out of habit.