While we're on bindings, it's ridiculous to me that no OS has a key for system level bindings that is separate from the key for application level bindings. For the sake of example, I'll call them the Sys and App keys.
<Sys-{x,c,v}> to manipulate the clipboard.
<Sys-{up,left,right}> to maximize and split window on left or right.
<App-s> to save; <App-t> for new tab (in browsers), <App-f> to search.
I really dislike when apps interfere with what I consider to be system level shortcuts, like copy/paste. But I also recognize that for some places (e.g. text with formatting) it's nice to allow it. So here's the nice thing: by default <App-{x,c,v}> can be the same as Sys, but this is a shortcut apps can override. Tada! Best of both worlds.
It seems like between Ctrl, Alt, and Cmd/Win, we ought to be able to separate these cleanly, even with some legacy compatibility restrictions. It frustrates me that Apple went partway there with the command key, but then decided to blur the lines, and there's no longer a clear distinction (actually, as a non Apple user: what do you even use the control key for?).
Windows is kinda sorta trying to do this with the Win key. It's not as consistent as what you describe - and it can't really be without breaking a lot of backwards compatibility for the users - but there's a slew of stuff like Win+M to minimize all windows, or Win+E to open Explorer.
<Sys-{x,c,v}> to manipulate the clipboard.
<Sys-{up,left,right}> to maximize and split window on left or right.
<App-s> to save; <App-t> for new tab (in browsers), <App-f> to search.
I really dislike when apps interfere with what I consider to be system level shortcuts, like copy/paste. But I also recognize that for some places (e.g. text with formatting) it's nice to allow it. So here's the nice thing: by default <App-{x,c,v}> can be the same as Sys, but this is a shortcut apps can override. Tada! Best of both worlds.
It seems like between Ctrl, Alt, and Cmd/Win, we ought to be able to separate these cleanly, even with some legacy compatibility restrictions. It frustrates me that Apple went partway there with the command key, but then decided to blur the lines, and there's no longer a clear distinction (actually, as a non Apple user: what do you even use the control key for?).