The HTML5 boilerplate doesn't get in my way - it includes some commonly needed stuff like jQuery, a CSS reset, etc. I can use it as the base for anything, not just a blog with a tree menu and a particular layout. (I'd also disagree with your use of the aside tag for archive navigation)
I'm not saying the HTML boilerplate is useless. I'm saying that something less bare-bones is useful.
Something less bare-bones can also be used as a base for anything. Deleting unused elements is easy.
The aside was intended to hold a variety of content. You're right that the sample content is navigation. I will look at making it a nav within the aside.
