One aspect of linking (#6 - Loaded by the User) relates specifically to the notion of publish-subscribe. If we viewed link definitions as subscription feeds that each user could opt-in (or opt-out of), it would simplify the debate and decision to use them.

Imagine you like Scoble's blog so much that keywords and blog post titles appeared as links in all your Microsoft Office documents when those same terms were used. Further envision subscribing to this Smart Tags collection in the same way that you subscribe to Scoble's RSS feed.

This is the model Microsoft had in mind when they first released Smart Tags in 1999. Unfortunately the the more pervasive understanding [of syndication] that we have today wasn't present in 1999, and more than a few writers jumped to conclusion that all Smart Tags were evil.

We provide an experimental [free] sand-box for Smart Tag subscriptions at http://myst-technology.com/mysmartchannels.

--bf