i looked into this and at present that is the best way -there is no simple tokenreplace element that can inject the relevant values. In fact this is how the core profile page works -it hosts a memberdirectory module with custom item template/alternative templates to support the send message/add as friend/follow actions - this allows you to change the look and feel (via module settings->member directory settings) but not the functionality.

I definately think some tokenreplace tokens would be better and could then be used in anything that supports tokenreplace (such as the html module) and will discuss this with the team when we meet to discuss the next major release

You need to add the Members Directory module on the page and use this template

                    <div class="friendProfileActions" data-bind="visible: !IsUser() && IsAuthenticated">
                    <ul>
                    <li><a href="" title="" class="ComposeMessage"><span data-bind="text: SendMessageText"></span></a></li>
                    <li>
                    <span>
                    <a href="" data-bind="click: addFriend, visible: FriendStatus() == 0"><span data-bind="text: AddFriendText"></span></a>
                    <span data-bind="click: addFriend, visible: IsPending()"><span data-bind="text: FriendPendingText"></span></span>
                    <a href="" data-bind="click: acceptFriend, visible: HasPendingRequest()"><span data-bind="text: AcceptFriendText"></span></a>
                    <a href="" data-bind="click: removeFriend, visible: IsFriend()"><span data-bind="text: RemoveFriendText"></span></a>
                    </span>
                    </li>
                    <li>
                    <span>
                    <a href="" data-bind="click: follow, visible: !IsFollowing()"><span data-bind="text: FollowText"></span></a>
                    <a href="" data-bind="click: unFollow, visible: IsFollowing()"><span data-bind="text: UnFollowText"></span></a>
                    </span>
                    </li>
                    </ul>
                    </div>

You can identify the 'tokens' for each action easily from the text.

hope it helps.

David