Hah! I just discovered that it's the same with OS X Safari... Click to open in current tab, Cmd-Click to open in a new tab. I never realised that.

Now I know how to use my browser properly, my preference would always be to have hyperlinks open in the same window, in accordance with the W3C standard. if I want a link to open in a new tab, it's my choice, and it's easy.

The point of the standard is that a web author should not force any particular browser behaviour on the user; they should decide how they want to use it. But it does depend on the user learning how to use their browser properly.... like I just did!

"If I were a shadow, I know I wouldn't like to be half of what I should be."
Mr Otsuka, the old black tomcat in Kafka on the Shore (Haruki Murakami)