Given that you're an early-stage startup, I'd suggest you go with a combination that allows you to develop your product quickly. If django-nonrel isn't seeing much development anymore, it would be safest to move away from it.
Design tweaks are beneficial if they actually make using HN easier. I really have no problems with the current layout, and I don't see how a more aligned HN helps me or makes it "better".
Functional is nice. Or it could just be me.