PWAs are a great idea and are pretty much on-par with native apps, especially if you do not want specific native-only features. I totally agree native apps require a lot of investment, but PWAs are quick and easy to setup, and works as a nice compromise until LessWrong decides to build a full native application. We do not need the perfect mobile application right off the bat.
I also agree that creating longform content on phones is horrible, but I disagree that reading longform content on phones is bad. I love to read on my phone, whether it's a blog articl...
Jan Baptist van Helmont was not beheaded. You are likely thinking of the famous French chemist Antoine Lavoisier, who was executed by guillotine during the French Revolution in 1794. Helmont died in his bed from a lung infection in 1644.