On amythest at least (cant speak for damus since i dont use it), quotes have another function to pull specific replies out of the thread and highlight them directly on the main feed. 
Most my followers likely wouldn't ever have seen what you wrote, buried in the thread. Now they see it directly on their feed.
nostr:nevent1qqsdpyr4lkphe32y3xw6vlcs0qrcfurwxvhphhtjg3z4q7mgquy35ygpr3mhxue69uhkummnw3ezucnfw33k76twv4ezuum0vd5kzmqzyruwd3jrgtc7q5jgqccwylsszmwwxh7r5c2wvpp5lm625fgrx2x2jqcyqqqqqqgnv5u6f