Exactly. This is a design choice and there’s no right or wrong here.

Yes there is a right and wrong. The default browser behavior is the design that every user expects, so unless there is a very strong argument for a different way, this is the _right_ design.

the difference is that with tab-open default, there is no way for me to open the link in this window

with this-window default (or actually, the browser-default-default), I can middle click and it'll open in a new tab regardless

pretty funny to have this discussion though, takes me back to the HTML4 and XHTML days

XHTML ftw :)

> Exactly. This is a design choice and there’s no right or wrong here.

I don't agree. If your design choice forces a user flow that is surprising, awkward, and redundant then it's definitely the wrong choice. It's still a call to be made by the design team, though.

i mean, is a small user preferences page out of the question here? the majority of web users arent going to write a js extension.

You don't need to write one? Just write a ublock origin rule, use grease monkey or whatever is used nowadays.

Or just configure your browser to ignore the target param, eg browser.link.open_newwindow_restriction 0 in about:config

The fact I've gotten so many down votes for my previous comment really nails the point down how HN isn't really used by technical people anymore. It's mostly idiots with opinions.

Wrong again.

The idiots here are arguing to follow default, de-facto specifications and to give users an easy accessible choice.