What annoys me is just the opposite in other operating systems
With me it's just the opposite, the first thing I install on a clean WB is a window to front util (MultiCX in my case)
There are several window managers on Linux which have the same behaviour (or can be configured to behave the same), you can use the active window without bringing it to the front. For example Amiwm which even has a dragable desktop and looks/behaves like WB 3.1 or Windowmaker which also has iconified apps on the desktop (this can also be done with Xfce4).
