[hnick]

There is no need to, but doing it with id numbers would add a lot of friction on the content creator's side so that's why it isn't like that. The 'some database' is the problem - who owns it?

Right now I can add whatever UTM parameters to any links I send without keying it into a database system, submitting a CR to the IT team, submitting it to Google, or any other nonsense. Details will be collected immediately whether through web logs, google analytics, or something else.

If one email that I send has links to multiple domains (some of which I don't control due to SaaS eating the web) then we'd either have to track and manage multiple IDs which change for each link or use a scary looking GUID generated by a centralised system (no thanks). That sounds like a real headache.

Hiding it behind an ID would make it prettier but it also reduces transparency to the end user of what is being collected. I think if it's going to be there anyway, I'd rather see it.

[zamalek]

Thank you for explaining the verbosity in more detail.