If everyone links to their blog instead of writing a text post I think there will be issues with self-promotion and clickbait like you said. Also people might be running ads/etc. on their own blogs which adds a monetization side to it all (i.e. I want to attract people in the magazine to click my link and see my blog so I make more money).
On Reddit for instance if someone discusses an interesting concept or reviews a product in a self post the sub appreciates it a lot. In contrast if someone posts a link to their blog with the same content it’s generally less well received.
The first few days was the refugee camp outside Reddit City, where we were all scrambling between our tents and looking for places that would take us. Now those camps are flourishing and buildings are popping up, while new citizens are joining every day!
This is all giving me strong Digg vs. Reddit comic vibes and I love it!