>>I think you'd very likely end up with a document of infinite length.
>
>So what, if that's what I'd prefer???

I don't think you'd prefer it, actually. For example, many pages have a link to a See Also page at the top. Given that, it could be many, many megabytes before you actually saw the first real word of the topic you wanted to see.

For example, you bring up Topic A. The first thing that happens is that the See Also link is expanded in place. The first item of the See Also page is expanded in place (call it Topic B). Topic B also has a See Also link at the top. That page is expanded. The first item of that See Also page is expanded (Topic C). Topic C has a See Also link. And so on and so on. That's all before the first useful word of Topic A is displayed! :)

Don't get me wrong--I do understand the problem you describe. I just think it's the nature of hypertext.