>When I use Ctrl-N to open a new window, or hit a link that does that for me, the newly created window is a random size, usually much too small, considerably down & right from the original window.
You can set the default size anytime you want by resizing one of those windows using the sizer in the lower right corner, then exiting out. It should remember that setting for the next time -- but doesn't work if you click the maximize square instead of using the sizer gizmo.