When I add a file manually with git annex add it works like expected: the file is replaced by a symlink pointing to a file in .git/objects. But with assistant or watch, I end up with a copy in my working tree.

Is this by design?

I use version 10.20240831-gb3dc65615318ffed194dfb85e631482d4515a180 I tried it on a linux box with btrfs and on WSL2 with ext4.