Use the mouse wheel/middle button. Will open a new tab when you click on a link and will close a tab when you click on the tab. This changed my life.
I'm also often using a laptop, on linux, and I do the middle-click-simulation (both buttons at once) with two hands, which is really annoying. I suppose I could fix it.
Also I always have my left hand on the keyboard, so for me it's not a problem to ctrl-click.
Ctrl+click doesn't work on a tab, though--have to hit the X.