Am I correct in thinking that driving is a form of scoring in itself?
No,as driving isn't understood as in real game,and isn't a third kind of shot to use with jump shot and inside shot.It is intended as the ability to create a their own shot,so increasing the percentages of the player with high driving,building on the base of the two shots,because he can find more often better shots than players with low driving
I also have a theory that shot blocking is a skill primarily designed to stop driving layups.
There is no proof to say that.