To me attaching it to source file actually makes sense. In either scenario paste results in the same thing at the destination, it is only the behaviour of the source that changes.

(Sure, under the hood nothing different happens at the beginning, but semantically I think Windows makes sense here)

> For whatever reason, Windows has cut attached to selecting the file

That is the universal way copy/cut&paste work, everywhere outside the Mac Finder.

Everywhere being windows and linux file managers that copied windows?

And "real life" cutting and pasting that the metaphor was based on (scrapbooking, ransom notes, etc...)

Even on Mac OS cut works like Windows, except in Finder.

On text where it makes sense.

wow I did not realize mac had that. As an original mac user cutting a file always seemed like a terrible idea when I saw the option on windows. What if you cut it but then then get interrupted before pasting? File gone! The mac way seems safer.