Firstly, I'm sure Bungie did want to drive people to Bungie.net and the Destiny App because it's a very effective social hub for people to discuss/share the lore and form clans/fireteams. If you could read the cards in game rather than on your smartphone/tablet/PC would it really be any improvement to your life whatsoever? Secondly, maybe there's a good story based reason for there being no Grimoire console or library in the Tower. The powers that be do not want Guardians knowing too much or asking too many questions. Having a big fat Grimoire console in the tower would be at odds with that.