Normal that values are stored as attribute terms?

When I add a text/textarea/number attribute to a product and type enter the value, the system stores that value as a new term in the attribute definition.

When I then delete the term from the attribute definition, it also removes it from the product where it was added.

Is that normal behaviour?

I somehow expected it would be like a custom attribute that is only saved with the product, with the added benefit that (only) the attribute names are already preconfigured.

Thanks
JP