This was discussed quietly in the [rocksmyfaceoff.net] Services Board, but there are now four required links for [rmfo-blogs] users. ([RMFO-Pro] users are not required to have these as links, but they’re encouraged.) They are listed under RMFO Links on every installation of WordPress, and they’re owned by the “admin” user [in other words, me :)] so that you can’t delete them.
If you’d rather use the text links than the images, go to Links –> Links Categories, edit “RMFO Links”, and uncheck the checkbox next to “Images”.
What’s the purpose of required links? Simply put, I want people to know what RMFO, in terms of a community, is all about. I’m aware that you’ll probably tell lots of people—people who have no idea who Caedmon’s Call or Derek Webb even are!—about your new Weblog, and well … this lets them know.
Plus, it helps us out with Google a little.
We think the required links are a small price to pay.