The problem is not Unix as much as it is the work habits that Unix users have developed. The rm command is hard core, and yet everyone (including me) uses it re

The problem is not Unix as much as it is the work habits that Unix users have developed. The rm command is hard core, and yet everyone (including me) uses it regularly. It would be much smarter to create a command named "trash" or "del" or whatever to instead move files to a trash folder. Then "empty-trash" could actually use rm. Alternatively, just slow down a little bit before using rm, especially when operating as root. Understand that it's (intended to be) permanent. Use echo first when using rm with a splat in order to ensure you're actually deleting what you expect to delete. The question, "Shouldn't this be made safer?" is irrelevant. At some level, you have to have an rm command. If users decide to use it regularly, then it's up to them to "Just be more careful!" The smarter thing would be to create a workflow that doesn't rely on using rm at all. Why whine and complain (not you, I mean users in general) about an operation that can be easily changed?