Your comments

Since 18.1 preview 2, SmartGit is using "git merge --abort" now which should resolve this problem.

According to Lars Schneider's comment, "git lfs clone" is obsolete now. http://smartgit.userecho.com/topics/65-gui-for-git-lfs/

Please give more details on performance problems: do you have a comparison for the same repository with and without junctions?

I think we should make the description of this topic clearer, so one can understand that (1) syntax highlighting can already be switched, but (2) what are the shortcomings of the current approach and (3) which faster solution is suggested.