Ubuntu
xdg-user-dirs package

  1. Bug #204567
  2. Comment #17

Comment 17 for bug 204567

Revision history for this message
Sashin (sashin) wrote : Re: downloads should go to $HOME/Downloads : XDG_DOWNLOAD_DIR should be set to "$HOME/Downloads"

How about do as I've done. Create an XDG directory in the home folder AND have a shortcut to that directory on the desktop.