Pasting a link
 

In Windows Explorer and other GUI file managers in Windows which I have used, you can copy a file and then open another directory and paste the file as a link.

I am aware that Linux's ability to handle "links" has always been more advanced than Windows. What I do not understand is why none of the mainstream GUI file managers, whether in Gnome or KDE, has ever offered this simple functionality.

I am not looking to start a flame war but I really do wonder why this simple functionality has not been offered by the file managers under Linux.

I do realize that the Linux file managers allow one to create a new link, one at a time. But this is far from the much easier ability IMO to just copy a file ( or files ) or directory ( or directories ) and paste it as a link in another directory.

Reflections, thoughts, explanations ?

I don't quite understand what you mean. In Konqueror I can copy and then paste my documents file in downloads, for instance. I haven't run into any problems as far as copying and pasting goes.

My OP is clearly about making a copy and then pasting that copy as a link somewhere else.

I would rather say: do not try to find windows' functionality in the linux world. They differ they will never be the same. So if you need to achieve a goal you would need to find different solutions on windows and linux. The approach to use the same solution on both OSs will [almost] never work.
I have a gnome desktop and I can create links and I can also create several links in one, and I van move those links into another dir, but I will never be able to mark files for copying and create links instead.