Sorry, didn't see post above on bandwidth/storage.

But I think you're overestimating things on how TOD w/ diaries would compare to TOD.  Dkos is the way it is because it's the center of the liberal blogosphere - diaries are its trademark, and everyone with a wellknown blog in that broad circle is obliged to have one.  It doesn't translate to our userbase.

I still don't see the point in reinventing the wheel.  Blogger has great tools for blogging, and is getting better all the time.  

dKos does not allow you to upload images, for example.  No doubt for bandwidth reasons.  Blogger does.  Heck, dKos now blocks even linking to images, except from a short list of image hosting services.