Sadly, although many would consider such  basic is not even met by many tools today. Researchers still email copies of papers around with the only form of version control being obscure new titles, like "FinalFinalFinal." 

With this base, writing effectively becomes publishing and we become free from the need of antiquated publishers for conversion, archival, hosting etc. Publishing has been built into the system of writing. Look at an Authorea article and look at a traditional scientific article. In many ways, our articles are not only on par but are more advanced than what an publisher offers. "But Josh!, you're forgetting so much! What about peer review?" Peer review, for all its imperfections and faults  \cite{Smith_2010}, and there are many, can be useful. The question with reviewing is not a matter of if but how and when.