Ask HN: What's up with links that aren't links?

Why would anybody create something that looks like a web button but doesn't behave like one? I'm seeing more and more of these every year. Gravatar links were the worst offender for a while but aren't. It breaks control-click, it breaks copy URL, it breaks tab focus. Some interpret right click as left click. This isn't just about accessibility (although that's a concern). Hyperlinks are the basic building block of the web. It's about usability for anyone who uses the web to get information rather than to be told what to buy.