WaniKani at least teaches words. Spending almost a year of your life doing nothing other than learning "meanings" of individual Kanji is...well, I guess some people just really get addicted to that mechanical feeling of progress?

Reading is definitely helpful, but I've found the relative importance of reading, listening and speaking goes in cycles, and especially at the early stages, listening and speaking are far more motivating than anything else. And I'm an introvert!