Comment 2 for bug 462404

For the (somewhat common) case where the user has to pick an application, the file-chooser should provide a link to /usr/share/applications in the Places side panel. That would also double as a convenient way to access applications from nautilus windows.

While some may object this kind of duplication, there's also a Desktop entry in places (although the Desktop is supposedly... in your desktop); and while most users will never browse the 'Filesystem' (a technical-sounding designation, not consistent with the '/' or 'root' or other conventions...), when they do, they will probably be looking for application launchers (which may not show up in the Application or System menus).

I don't like saying this, but... in windows, users can right-click and open up their Start Menu folder, and find where their stuff is (well, that's just shortcuts). Or browse their 'c:' drive [they are accustomed to that idiosyncratic designation] and find a folder named Program Files, right there.

[We have an OS that is heavily, fundamentally based on the filesystem, but we are breaking that, and that spells trouble...]