If the server returns ViewURL in its response, then the client should display it as a clickable link, so people can easily view their crash reports online.

I think a better solution is to: 1) Remove the "View Report" from the UI. Its is a lie: the information displayed in that tiny window is not the report but just some cryptic internal information that is of no use to anyone other than the Crash Reporter developers. Its too much info for users and too little for developers. 2) Replace the View Report link with a link to socorro with the text, "Your crash report will be posted to <link> in a few minutes. Thanks, these reports help." 3) Since the ViewURL cannot be guaranteed to be available when the user is seeing the UI, don't put it up conditionally. This will confuse users: once they see a link the next time they don't they will think the tool is broken.

The View URL is not available until *after* submitting the report.

Yes, so the submission UI should not use it. Ideally the client would create the report id and then it could show the URL. I suppose the server defines the ID, and its too late to fix that. A link to a socorro overview and search page would satisfy both the curious user and needy developer. In fact that page would be a great place for the "email me when this is fixed" feature. Then the crash reporter UI only needs one link for more information and two buttons, one for close and one for restart.

WONTFIXing, see bug 399896 comment 4.