Yup, though MadHatters and Red Cherry link lists may not be among the largest, the traffic their sites send me is among the larger
Their sites have that rule along with a couple pr 2-3 sites..
Again in no way did I want to imply that rule was extremely prominent with the majority of link lists...just that it was there.
The main point is there ARE a lot of differences in various link lists rules, and that I for one have found it easier and more time efficient to make my sites compliant with the majority rather then creating sites to take advantage of what each link list allows.
Sure some link lists allow 4 out going links per page while others(most) limit it to 3...do I make sites with 4 links per page because its allowed at some? No I simplify and just make them 3 max to satisfy all.
Other link lists allow full size images on html pages, but most don't...so I don't make any sites with full images on html even though I lose an opportunity for extra sales opportunities.
Several high traffic link lists allow us to use mild consoles at the sponsors sites, but as many others do not, I do not on any site I submit...even though my sponsor payouts are greatly reduced and I lose a profitable source of income.
There is even a large discrepancy as to what a blind link is. Quite honestly I believe that when my whole freesite is geared to promoting a single site and I have a link thats says something like "See the full versions now!" or "For a limited time you get FREE ACCESS!" they are not blind links but simply aggresive marketing.
But a large number of link list owners DO consider those to be blind links, so you know what? I don't use those type of links on the free sites I submit. I will add the redundant @sponsor.com
All of those more aggresive sales techniques (consoles, exit dumps, teasing text) and others I do use but not on my free sites I submit.
Sure it would be nice if every link list had exactly the same rules and requirements...it would make my job easier. But every one of them has the absolute right to DEMAND exactly what they want on their link lists.
So I feel it is up to me to do the standardization...the vanillarization of my sites to meet every ones requirements. If I don't like a particular rule, it is my choice whether I submit to that list or not. I either adapt my site to their wishes or drop them from my submit list. Not the link lists owners obligation to change for me.