Macros *are* variables. Internally, in the TWCore, they are one and the same.
The only difference is that the macro declaration syntax allows you to pass in
optional parameters to be substituted into the macro value before returning.
Most macros are in fact just parameterised variables.
and
The dumpvariables macro lists all variables (including macros) that are available at that position in the widget tree.
You should be able to get the value of the macro using Javascript in your customized
link.js widget, as long as that widget is being rendered in a tiddler view, since the
macro/variable defininition is being loaded via $:/tags/Macro/View.
However, I can't test this myself since I don't have your customized code.
I suggest placing the <<dumpvariables>> macro somewhere just before an occurrence of a link that uses your customized link.js code
to see if it lists your hb-highlight-intensity-kw variable and value.
You could also add
console.log("highlight gain is:" + hightlightGain);
somewhere in your link.js code, and then check the output in the browser's developer console window.
-e