For an "always open link in new tab" option, as a new
browser feature, we need a second new feature:
"Close preceding tab" (i.e. the tab that holds the history
leading to this one). The feature should be available at
least by right-clicking on the page, or by selecting
options from the tab I'm
on. \
Maybe an icon with a BACK arrow and X icon on it,
could be good for this.
Also, the new tab should hold the history of its
predecessors, and not only history beginning with the
tab being opened.
When hitting the history for one back, if that tab is still
open, jump to it, rather than overriding the current
tab.
Same for FORWARD if reached here by pressing "BACK".
I know, its harder to implement, but from the UX side,
it makes things simpler.