A photograph can mean a great deal to three people. Putting a small number beside it tells everyone how it performed, but says nothing about what it meant.
Public like counts invite us to compare a friend's family news with a stranger's most popular post. The numbers look comparable; the relationships aren't. TouchGrass leaves the count out so you can share something because you want particular people to see it.
A friend remembering the place in your photograph, asking how the move went or sending a message about your story adds something a total cannot. Comments and conversations let people respond in their own words. You don't need a large audience for that to be worthwhile.
