I don't think it would be too difficult to script up a keyboard shortcut to offer a paste like feature for edit poly. But yea its kind of annoying when they take something out and refuse to remove other actual useless garbage...
Commander Keen (sitting next to me, and tired of hearing me bitch about this problem) wrote a quick max script to at least let me clone sub-objects in place using CTRL-V If anyone wants it, send me an email and I'll send it over [email]nduguid@@crypticstudios.com[/email] (only 1 @)