Checking if Primal still does DoFollow links on the profile page ... it does. Few.
Listen: Corruption starts, when these links turn to NoFollow links. Mark my words.
Discussion
The nofollow link is a signal for sure. It's like not putting bricks in the foundation.
I can remember finding out a colleague was going through old blogs nofollowing links to the website generating work for him - the excuse being, so Google didn't think he was showing too much love to one site. It was nonsense. He was setting up a competing site and wanted the "Google love" to stop with him" .
He was a right Canute.