I've been doing custom recips like this for years without issues. I use style sheets and create a style called "recips" and code everything that is linkable for the LLs with that style. That way, I can change the colors on my table and recip links with changing two bits of code.
I too give everyone a text link, and put title tags like they want, or add a title tag if they have an image alt tage. Since I use a css style, everyone is the same font, etc. Only difference is if someone has a bunch of little text in between the links, I put that font size 1 so they aren't huge compared to the rest.
I don't know why every LL wouldn't want this, it looks so much cleaner on a page...more professional. And since I build only one "doorway" I put more recips than most do and it doesn't look as bad.