Google Lag: Site .vs. Inbound Links

Does a site need to be linked to, or just hosted?

[Algebrator]

I would just like a confirmation that I understood the sandbox effect properly - it refers to "newness" of a site, not the links pointing to it - is that correct?

For example if I am planning on developing a few sites in the future (already have domains registered), would it make sense to start hosting them right away (containing just a simple index page and nothing else), although I do not plan on developing developing for a couple of months (contents-, or backlink-wise). Then I can just have a single link from one of my other sites, to get the new site in the index.
I am in no rush with these new sites - it seems that with a minimal hassle and expense I could make them "old".

[prairie]

Some people have dropped by adding a lot of new pages/file names... so even if you age the home page, it mightn't be of much use.

[dvduval]

I would say try to get at least a handful of links and a handful of (internal) pages.

[Algebrator]

OK, that does make sense and is doable
Thanks