The [color] tags were originally most prevalent right after the date number before the first username, closing at the end of the line. So, if
link coloring was ignored, it'd be
##.
*username*'s birthdaywhich made me think the same setup'd work for several same-date birthdays on the grounds that
##.
*username* and
*username*'s birthdaywould look pretty silly in my view. The convention/meet-up names are fully colored too, so why not let a poor conjunction receive the same treatment as the rest of the line, number excluded, neh? Saves using additional tags, too!
I've got nothing against it being changed back/further though -- oh, the little things!