If there were, would you (all) expect your comments and submitted links to be deleted, or should they stay but attributed only to a "deleted user"?

I think it should be up to the user.

I know Reddit is a four-letter word around here but they seem to get by with allowing users to delete their posts and account at any time. Hacker News should do the same, along with allowing bulk download of an account's posted data.

should be attributed as a "deleted user".

Deleted.

not really, still it exists.

Hm? I’m answering he question. If my account were deleted I’d expect my posts to be deleted.