I have used a similar windows trick.
I wanted to add to the default window system a place for my library of tools.
Most are "portable" cmd apps from various sources (sysinternals, nirsoft). I put them all into a directory called ] in the root of a drive.
Because of some common layout of keyboards the \ and ] are near each other,
or in reach of left and right pinkies I can type \]\ before the name of the tools. This means I don't even have add a dir to the path.
I am sure this violates someone sensibilities but it has saved time over the years as a consultant when I had to deal with a wonky machine and owner did not want permanent install of diagnostic tools.
Unrelated but I heard it's possible to rename c:\ to /usr/bin or something, depending on your usage. I personally wouldn't mind renaming it to ~/<user-name> and be able to use some of my dotfiles in Windows.
I put c:\tools in my path, then put shortcuts to all my tools in there (ie: shortcut to AgentRansack named ar).
Now, I pull up the run command (WND+R) type ar and agent ransack opens.
Because of some common layout of keyboards the \ and ] are near each other, or in reach of left and right pinkies I can type \]\ before the name of the tools. This means I don't even have add a dir to the path.
I am sure this violates someone sensibilities but it has saved time over the years as a consultant when I had to deal with a wonky machine and owner did not want permanent install of diagnostic tools.