How can I rewrite an "edit" operations link in Views?
Under fields, add the User ID.  Select Exclude from display and choose Unformatted for the Formatter.
Under fields, add User Name again.  Uncheck display as link.  Under Administrative Title, you can add something descriptive like user name (no link) so that you can remember what this is for. 
Rearrange the fields so that User ID and the second User Name fields are at the top.
Click User: Operation Links under Fields.  Under Rewrite results, input the following for the text: &lt;a href="/user/{{ uid }}/edit"&gt;edit {{ name_1 }}&lt;/a&gt;


This makes a plain link instead of a button.  I imagine there is a more efficient way to do this, but this is the best I could come up with for now.