Is there a browser with a particularly reliable, crisp response and link-clickability?

You should see a speed improvement when you first use the browser in a new computer. If the sluggishness doesn't appear to improve at that point, it is the way the pages use the internet. You only have to compare the speed of response my website with, say Fakebook, to see what is happening. My page has maybe 100 lines of code (& no cookies) that have to load. Fakebook has 180 JavaScript files to load, and that without Fakebook "apps". All of them are stuffed with junk screed to obfuscate and confuse analysis. Then those links you percieve as "<A HREF=" TAGs are probably dynamic script personalised to you.

All of which is backed-up by PHP or some proprietary language of Fakebook's parentage and that has to come down the internet in packages, and from multiple servers distributed across the world.

When I use a BT (notso) Hotspot for Fakebook it loads bits in order and one disruption can freeze the page, proving that there is a load of interdependence of the parts.

FWIW I have only used Edge for what3words.com, Mudcat, and my own pages for verification. And IE is relatively fast because mine clears cookies & history on exit.

I would blame it on ZOOM generally because that has ramped-up over a short time of COVID - whereas the beleaguered IT workers may be stuck at home a lot and not at the servers exchanging (techie) banter with their colleagues. And the equipment to improve the 'net takes time and money to install, which is in short supply.