4chan and Reddit got popular in the same way: through negative publicity.
>>3659432>>3659459>>3659480>>3659491INCLUDE ME IN THE SCREENCAP
EPIC THREAD BRO I WAS THERE
HAHAHA LURK MOAR NEWFAG I WAS HERE BEFORE 2001
We don't have a point system because we don't need it. As a matter of fact, and ironically, the lack of point system makes the process of adaptation to blind adherence to the norm and mindless repetition of other's ideas (memes) faster because you don't even need to build up a reputation in points or anything like that. You repeat other's memes and mimic their ideas and attitudes even if you don't understand them and you're immediately one of the cool guys.
When there is a point system there is some incentive to break off the main consensus and differentiate yourself from the others by having more radical niche ideas, by creating yourself a subforum where like minded people can gather. Here the number of subdomains (boards) is fixed by the administrators and less diversity of ideas is possible. (ie: there's less space)
Honestly I have never used reddit and if it weren't for the morons that publicize it here I wouldn't ever known of the existence of said shitty american website. But that doesn't remove the fact that there's infinitely more diversity of opinion in reddit than in 4chan, just by the very nature of a site that allows you to create subdomains where you can talk with people from different ideas than other subs.
Diversity of opinion in 4chan is a myth. Lack of personality (anonymity) is what creates hiveminds.