The Tab Mix Plus extension has a gem of a feature buried deep within the settings: The ability to turn the Ctrl+Tab key from a direct tab switch into a popup menu that works similarly to the Windows Alt+Tab feature. It'll pop up a tiny dialog window that gives you a list of your tabs, and then on release of the keys will switch to that tab. I've been using this for a while, but I only realized it's one of those things I can't live without when I actually had to go without it for a few minutes earlier... To turn on this setting, open up Tab Mix Plus Options, click on Events and then the Tab Features tab. You'll see a checkbox titled "Ctrl-Tab displays a tab list popup menu" which you'll want to select.

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Just try it for a while... if you use as many tabs as I do, you'll want to always keep this setting on.