re:once you get past page 1 of flat mode they seem to cross-link to other threads.

which is why we old timers set up our preferences to veiw 99 post per page, so all the post are one one page..
for the same reason, thread are deliberately ended (and sometime have a part 2 or 3)at 98 post (original and 98 replies/etc=99)...

you can set your preferences to 99 and zip through long threads, and not have to 'reload pages as you read thread that got long when you weren't looking.