The problem with updating icon positions in both windows (to preserve the spatial metaphor) is that doing so also breaks the spatial metaphor. You switch to the

The problem with updating icon positions in both windows (to preserve the spatial metaphor) is that doing so also breaks the spatial metaphor. You switch to the second window and suddenly something that you thought was in one place suddenly isn't, and you're not sure why for a second or two. Eastgate Tinderbox is an example of software that actually implements this behavior, and it ends up being more frustrating than it seems, to the point where most users seem to only keep one spatial view open at any one time. Which seems to be where the original Mac UI settled too. I'm not sure why Tinderbox never moved to a model where a complete set of spatial positions are maintained per spatial view, so users could have two windows open with the same object in different positions, but presumably that would also have the potential for user confusion.