DaveAtIFG - 6:50 pm on Jun 14, 2001 (gmt 0)

>make my "links page" valuable for visitors and hope that leads to some benefit in the SEs

I do this too and it has served me well. It's a sound long term strategy.

>The links open new windows...

I did a poll of my users a year or so back asking about preferences. The overwhelming majority preferred opening new windows. Keep in mind, my visitors are "average surfers," your's are likely to be much more advanced browser users.