These conventions are there because it's the default, not because most people use them.
Here on HN and most of the old reddit users certainly use that, but I doubt that the majority of reddit today (including the team of 20 designers making the new design) care about it "middle click to open in a new tab".
I agree. My point is that they aren't overriding, they're just clueless. Using `onClick` instead of a proper link solves their problem and they don't even see the new one that they just created.
Here on HN and most of the old reddit users certainly use that, but I doubt that the majority of reddit today (including the team of 20 designers making the new design) care about it "middle click to open in a new tab".