There is nothing to suggest that people who want to measure (and perhaps increase) their publishing reach are “tying [their] self-worth to how much attention [they] think [they’re] getting”.

This is sort of like assuming everyone who is taking photos at a tourist attraction is doing so to show off their holiday for social status.

If your site or content is truly valuable, it is a public good to monitor, analyze, and improve upon its reach and usability.