To me (Unix guy since 1980) the & character has always been "submit this command .. AND .. <the next thing I type>" .. so yeah, it seems like it actually did fu

To me (Unix guy since 1980) the & character has always been "submit this command .. AND .. <the next thing I type>" .. so yeah, it seems like it actually did fulfil what you consider its 'original intention' - which was to allow you to submit a command, AND .. another one ..