SUMMARY Attempting to cut-paste or copy-paste a Clone Layer automatically converts it into a Paint Layer. This means it's not possible to cut a Clone Layer from somewhere in the stack and paste it somewhere else to quickly move it. The only way to move a Clone Layer is by dragging it slowly through the entire stack. STEPS TO REPRODUCE 1. Create a Paint Layer and draw something on it. 2. Select it on the Layers docker and create a Clone Layer from it. 3. Select the Clone Layer on the Layers docker and press Ctrl-X or Ctrl+C, alternatively, right click on the Clone Layer and click Cut Layer or Copy Layer. 4. Press Ctrl+V or right click on the stack and click Paste Layer. OBSERVED RESULT What's pasted is a Paint Layer. You can edit it, and editing the first Paint Layer you created doesn't update what has been pasted. EXPECTED RESULT A Clone Layer should have been pasted, so that the Clone Layer you cut effectively just moved around, or that you've created a second clone of the first Paint Layer. SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS Windows: 7 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION I haven't tested all layer types, but cut-pasting a Fill Layer works as expected. If the Clone Layer is in a Group and you cut-paste the Group, the whole Group is pasted as-is and the Clone Layer isn't converted. Given the above, converting the Clone Layer to a Paint Layer is inconsistent with how layer pasting normally works.
I can Confirm that this is the case for the 4.4.8 appimage and a recent 5.1.0-prealpha appimage. I don't know if this was a design decision or a design oversight.
Reconfirming for 5.2.6. Copying a clone layer will paste a paint layer. Same reproduce steps still work: STEPS TO REPRODUCE 1. Create a Paint Layer and draw something on it. 2. Select it on the Layers docker and create a Clone Layer from it. 3. Select the Clone Layer on the Layers docker and press Ctrl-X or Ctrl+C, alternatively, right click on the Clone Layer and click Cut Layer or Copy Layer. 4. Press Ctrl+V or right click on the stack and click Paste Layer.
You can do right-click -> Duplicate Layer or Mask. That will create a new identical clone layer that can also be Duplicated. This is created immediately above the layer that is Duplicated, as might be expected. I think the Cut/Copy/Paste actions are only concerned with composited image content, not layer type/structure.