i would agree that the target audience can just type in the html, ..
but in a 'less chars'-kinda way maybe the conversion box isn't such a bad idea...
it could even automagically do stuff with http:// and user@doains
on the other hand than you could just as easily build in an <div contenteditable=true> - typof wysiwyg editor...
or could.....
*but* then i return to the first point..
people who prog perl aren't allowed, imho, to complain bout typing html