In reply to Laura.

Regardings your site I prefer to see contact form instead of ads and all kind of social icons and embeds ;)
If you don't need that anybody contact you or give you feedback on comments, you don't have to use these tools ;)

It has nothing to do with trends. For example contact form is my "call to action" so it is the most important part of my site.

Allow people to comment your post is a tool for engaging with them. If you don't care and don't need it, turn comments off, less work for you.
If you asked this, you probably don't need both of these tools ;)