Just hit enter when you clicked on a file. That's the same F2 does in Windows. Just the enter button is closer to regular use than F2.
As to showing the desktop: FN+F11. But you can configure that in System Preferences -> Exposé and Spaces.
Easy enough. I use it every day. Besides you're a linux guy. You should take a look at the visor terminal (visor.binaryage.com). It enables a Quake2 like terminal via hotkey all the time. That's a great productivity booster!
Wait.. are you trying to tell us its easy by introducing yet more odd and complicated buttons to the mix? Command + Click is too complicated - use Enter or FN+F11 instead? What??? I'm really not buying into your argument here!
I can not remember cmd+f11 (my guess would have been f3). I don't use it often enough. I can remember the little button next to the start menu that looks like the desktop. I can remember to try second mouse button when I want to do something special with a file.
Key combinations are impossible to discover by exploration. With the right mouse button, you can solve every problem by exploration.
As to showing the desktop: FN+F11. But you can configure that in System Preferences -> Exposé and Spaces.
Easy enough. I use it every day. Besides you're a linux guy. You should take a look at the visor terminal (visor.binaryage.com). It enables a Quake2 like terminal via hotkey all the time. That's a great productivity booster!