bug (old?): unlinking root prim unlinks entire object

Steps to reproduce the bug: Create a linked object of 3 or more prims, space them as far apart as they will go (without snapping back because of the link distance), select just the root prim, and unlink.

Observed results: The entire object's prims are unlinked.

Expected results: Only the root prim should unlink--or at least a message should indicate the max link distance will cause ALL prims to unlink--or, better yet, just INCREASE THE LINK DISTANCE!

I'm guessing that if you edit a linked object to make it violate the link distance limits, and then you poke it so that SL "notices", it'll unlink. People have seen this kind of thing before.

There've been good explanations by lindens in the forums as to why the link distance is as limited as it is.

yes it has been supposed ly and half hazzardly explained but as to Eeps observations I have to agree.. Why the hell are prims allowed to link at a given distance in the FIRST PLACE only to possibly become unlinked later on of its own accord?

Example:

I created an airplane that consisted of two wings which had 4 hollowed offset cyliners( each section) with slight tapers and stretched so on each wing section asto allow atleast 50^m witdth span.

The whole assembly linked as it should have and it flew quite well , BUT , upon going into Edit to edit the root prim for adjustments the whole of it came unlinked. This unlinking also occured upon a new rezzing from my inventory thus forcing me to relinkink the whole matter, most likely due to our lovely feature of physics.

So why then give us these 'Limits' when those 'Limits' are really null and void in most cases?

Agreed, a 256 prim limit is enough of a restriction. I can see why SOME limit would be necessary so we don't get a sword spanning three sims, but even a distance of 128m is not unreasonable and would allow for many buildings to be linked as a whole object rather than three, four, or even five seperate pieces.

And the problem is linking small prims requires larger intermediate prims, which is just stupid. Can't even link 2 10m-long, .1m-diameter cylinders end-to-end without having to use a HUGE 2m-diameter (vs. a .1m-diameter) prim in the middle. Stupid.