Yes, it's intended.
I don't use other mods who add linkable, so no mod support providen.

Is it intended that you disable all linkables from the simple research bench? Looks like the patch for the HiTech bench specifically removes the sample bench and archotech analyzer from linking but the simple bench looks like linking is completely disabled? For instance Vanilla Factions Expanded - Medieval 2 contains a research chalkboard and it will not link to the simple research bench with this patch but will to HiTech benches.