Further to this thread (making category links red only if they have just 1 member, http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/mediawiki-l/2007-March/019259.html ), and in response to the responses (that changing the colours was met with disapproval), might I suggest that the colours remain the same, but red category links simply don't take you to an editing page?
This would solve the main problem I think. The point is that categories can still be used even if they are red, so I want to be able to view a category (from a link) without it taking me to an edit box. I just want to see the members. Everything else about the category remains the same - it is classed as a wanted page, etc., the link simply just doesn't automatically go into editing. I think this solution gets the best of both worlds.