Ultimately target was removed for a reason, it creates usability issues. Using javascript as a get around is garbage bloating your code, slowing your website and making your site look amateurish. As a user I don't want a website dictating to me I have to have a new tab open. It should be up to me if I want to or not. It just adds to the confusion if you then want to go back to a website/page you can't because its not in that tab. Keep in mind that on mobiles it is not so obvious that it has opened a new tab and to users with lower ability they may not even understand this and not be able to find their way back to your site page.