While links are purported to add authority to the text, I wonder how many readers actually click them? I agree that they can be useful for adding background or reference material, and I also agree that the article should stand on its own, without requiring the reader to click the link. On the other hand, if it is just the link itself that adds authority, could we not use circulalr links? Or even empty links? Or maybe just change the format to resemble a link?

After all, web readers are apparently lazy, so just having links should lend serious credibility to anything we write, right?