I use WordPress because I think the layouts look more professional. I particularly like the Magazine Basic layout because the column layout resembles a newspaper. I'm not sure if Magazine Basic is available for the WordPress hosted blogs, though.
As far as plug-ins go, I have quite a few active. Here's the list:
Add to Any: Subscribe Button
Helps readers subscribe to your blog using any feed reader. [Enable Widget | Settings]
Akismet
Akismet checks your comments against the Akismet web service to see if they look like spam or not. You need a WordPress.com API key to use it. You can review the spam it catches under "Comments." To show off your Akismet stats just put <?php akismet_counter(); ?> in your template. See also: WP Stats plugin.
article2pdf
This plugin let your visitors download an article as PDF file - images, formats and tables included. You can specifiy a PDF file to use as template for the generated file. Installation: Activate plugin and add the link <a href="?article2pdf=1">PDF version</a> somewhere in the single.php (or post.php) of your theme. Have fun! Configure the plugin options via the configuration page. Bug reports and feature requests welcome!
Broken links Remover
Eliminate Broken links
Business Directory
The Business Directory plugin for Wordpress is an easy way to host a free directory page for your readers, affiliates, advertisers, community, club members, etc. Allow them to submit a simple advertisement listing for themselves on your blog.
Count Per Day
Counter, shows reads per page; today, yesterday, last week, last months ... on dashboard.
Custom Post Background
Allow each post or page to have a custom background. Has the ability to edit the style of each post individually.
Easy Post-to-Post Links
Easily reference another post in your blog using a shortcut, either by id or post slug. The shortcut is replaced with the hyperlinked title of the referenced post
Fast Tube
Fast and easy way to insert videos from YouTube right into your WordPress blog posts.
HTML-Javascript Adder
A widget plugin for using javascripts, HTML scripts , Flash Embed Codes and other scripts in your sidebar.This version has multiple widget support.
Member Access
Member Access is a WordPress plugin that allows an administrator to require that users be logged-in in order to view certain posts and pages.
More Link Modifier
Allows you to easily modify the text for more link. Also lets you remove the default anchor link.
Post Template
A plugin that allows you to create post templates in order to save time writing posts having the same structure. This plugin makes use of the excellent other plugin "Manage Pages Custom Columns" by Edward Dale.
QuickTables
Quickly add tables to any post or page using simple shortcode tags.
Remove duplicated post content on comments page
Remove content duplicating on comments pages
Wordpress PDA & iPhone
This plugin helps the users to view your blog in a pda and iPhone browser.
WP-CopyProtect [Protect your posts]
This plug-in will protect your blog content [posts] from being copied. A simple plug-in developed to stop the Copy cats.
WP Post Columns
Allows you to easily create columns within your posts for a magazine / newspaper style layout. Idea for extra columns credited to RickHap
http://www.flyhypersonic.com/wordpress
WP Security Scan
Perform security scan of WordPress installation.
