Link words

In my view the best clues rarely have link words - there is a neatness to simply having a definition and wordplay. Link words can 'prop up' a surface reading, and aren't strictly necessary for the clue (although they are not just padding; they serve a purpose, albeit an optional one). I don't know of any editors who refuse link words altogether, but some only like prepositions rather than e.g. 'WP making DEF', probably on grounds of obtrusiveness/elegance 1/2

Editors often work in barred thematics as well as regular cryptics, and there's a stronger rationale for avoiding link words in advanced puzzles which often have a gimmick e.g. extra words, or extra letters generated by wordplay, and it's imperative that every word unambiguously earns its place. Such editors apply this good practice to their own blocked puzzles, without necessarily imposing it on setters - but will usually request an edit if they believe a clue can work without a link word.