using shadows in photoshop (ps) is different from gimp. ps makes it an attribute
of an object, that can be changed later, since the parameters are always editable.

the way of gimp is running a macro, that produces a oneway result. if you are a
perfect painter, who makes his work, never changing something again, then you
are fine with the macro solution ;-)

All the others would benefit of some more care :-)

I think, that the approach of ps is really better here and nearer to life. And
why should developers invest there time in second rate solutions?