While I am not an expert on either Links or Links SQL, I believe you should be able to generate pages that are indistinguishable between the two products and at the same locations. This depends on getting your html templates set up in the same way and maintaining your category structures.

If your Links installation is in the cgi-bin at: /cgi-bin/links/
and build pages in the /pages/ directory

Links SQL could be installed in the cgi-bin at: /cgi-bin/linkssql/
and build pages in the /pages2/ directory

Then you could tweak Links SQL until you are satisfied, then go into the admin and change the build directory from /pages2/ to /pages/. You could also choose the dynamic option and not build the pages, but simply run dynamically until you are ready to make the change over and this would save lots of server space.

One of the biggest things I had to adjust to was Links SQL flexibility. For me, this meant when I was searching for the "one" solution, it was confusing because there were usually several, equally valid ways of accomplishing the task at hand. You have sort of run across this with the static, dynamic and php options. They are all good options and depend more on your preferences and server limitations.
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Rob

SW Montana's Online Community
Modular Model Railroading