I think trust people to know and do what they want: left click or middle click. The problem with making the new-tab choice for them is they can't click in such a way as to keep the same tab. I have literally written browser extensions to fix auto-new-tab links, it's that frustrating.

This is a compelling enough argument for me to switch the default.

Another data point: I open almost every link in a new tab, but I also find it very frustrating when a link opens in a new tab by default.

I'm the opposite. I actually wrote a small browser extension to make HN links open in a new tab because it annoys me so much.

I can't disagree with what others have said about making it user-choice though. Maybe some kind of toggle switch that lets users set the behavior one way or the other would work?

In chrome-based browsers, you can also middle-click (mouse wheel click) a link to open it as a new tab.

That predates Chrome by many years, in Firefox if not Opera, Konqueror, etc.

99% of the time I'm using a laptop trackpad, not a mouse.

You that you can open in new tabs with ctrl+click?

Just to be sure.

Yes, I'm aware. I'd rather not have to remember to do it every time though. Just personal preference.

A link should always open in the same tab by default, unless there’s a compelling reason otherwise: for users who prefer to open in a new tab (like myself) they can use the appropriate shortcuts, menu options or click combinations. If you configure links to open in a new tab, it’s impossible for a user to open it in the same tab.

I would agree that same-tab is desirable and the rest of us can use ctrl+click according to our preference.