I'd prefer the edit link to be a button.

Or at least to harmonize the interface of links.

Below the root node of a partial thread we'll find a bar with links

Comment on Re: RFC: Edit your posts in a separate page, rather than at the top of a thread. Select or Download Code   —  Send private /msg to LanX Replies are listed 'Best First'.

but all other non-root posts have links to the right of the text. I think that's very confusing for beginners.

Personally I'd prefer buttons, but even if we continue with links, we'd need to find a way to place the edit-link into the bar.