Well, a truly elite hacker would simply hack their way past the block. You can check that one off as solved then.

If she's an elite hacker, she already knows someone on HN, or could easily get to know someone...

This just won't always be true. Consider an eleven year old hacker, he/she may be elite for their age level but are unlikely to know anyone on the site.

Same for many of the elite hackers in countries like China and Russia.

Interesting that assume said elite hacker is female.