I agree with the sentiment, however, I feel the Kudos button just can't communicate that. If you had given me a Kudos I wouldn't have known it was from you, I wouldn't have known what the intent was and it would just be another number. What's the difference between 23 Kudos and 24 Kudos? But the difference between 23 comments and 24, well, that could be life changing.
What about the hundeds of people who may have liked your article, but didn't leave a comment? Aren't they, in aggregate, worth way more than a single comment?
I understand your intent, but it reminds me a little of Ford's "... any colour so long as it is black" remark. The kudos button only caters to a single form of opinion, and at that it's a little vague. I appreciate the effort at simplifying the gauge of sentiment, that should be continued, however I'm weary of loosing out on the nuances of personal interaction. This discussion we're having here is a good example of that.
I think the Kudos button is an interesting idea, but I'm not sure it's the right one. Something a little more malleable, something that facilitates a broader spectrum of opinion while maintaining simplicity would be better, I feel.
You comment here is a perfect example of this.