Yes, link aggregation is one of the main feature of reddit. And I guess it’s a main feature here as well. But another feature on both sites is also the text-post that can be used to promote discussion among users. But they are so few and far between they drown in all the post with links to new-site of less than good quality.
Of course there are webforums, but the one that are still active are usually single topic webforums. Like for example windows 10 forums, or a rc-helicopter/remote-drone forum. This place is a much better place to discuss a wide range of topics inside the correct community, anything from gardening, to politics, to power electronics. That’s why I would enjoy a common place in the fediverse to meet people :)