Links save users 42 steps
A report on the NISO/NFAIS Linking Workshop held February 24, 2002 has some very ineresting discussion about linking. A couple of interesting points:

- When linking to a document sometimes the same one URL doesn't work well for all users. Links that are "user aware" would ideally link users to the most appropriate version/copy of a document based on who they are.
- Having the right link can save users a lot of time and effort -- typically saving them about 42 steps to access the same information versus getting there without a direct link.

...Of course we already knew that "links are good" and act like shortcuts. I've just never seen their effectiveness quantified.