OK, semantics and subjectivism here from both of us, granted. Feel free to insert "really good way" or "perhaps better" or "imho" wherever necessary to get the point across--
" without the phasing issues/comb filtering
that can occur with the 'copy/paste' method." Of course they are different techniques, and maybe that's exactly what the OP wanted, etc., etc. But that technique comes with a price (the phasing issues and mono "incollapsability"), and while a few people back in the analog days may have doubled with a second track/bussed delay technique, most people did/had to sing multiple parts if they wanted the same vocalist to sing all/most of the back-ups, back in the day. While the technique of cutting and pasting may indeed/de facto be "different," it really arose as a matter of digital convenience, which is why I boldly said "best," in relation to getting a good sound _without the attendant issues_. I think Bruce Swedien was pretty sure that having Michael sing all of those parts, at different distances from the microphone, while trying to sing as close to the original track as possible, was a worthwhile process.
Of course, ymmv, and everyone is free to produce as they see fit (at least in this country). Certain "best practices" do tend to rise to the top for a reason, though.
GJ