Oh, I am extremely aware.

The problem is that many links (i.e. from Google) do not go there, most people won't know that's an option, and even if you do it means additional friction. (Yes, putting on a browser plugin to redirect also counts as friction. )

Firefox has a plugin [0] that automatically redirects you to old.reddit.com.

[0]: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/old-reddit-re...

Another thing that Kagi can do automatically for you once you set it up.

Zero friction.

https://help.kagi.com/kagi/features/redirects.html

Any forum on old.reddit.com has links to threads that go to new pages, supremely annoying (I am sure there is some plugin or workaround for that but why the heck should I battle the site just to use it)

LibRedirect, browser extension:

<https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/libredirect/?...>

I installed it a couple of years back after multiple recommendations from other HN members. It fixes more than just Reddit.