No IMHO. Both characters were important, in the early years of the series. Katherine (a single parent) was there as the catalyst to test Cole's character and then Linda came along when he was away from Melissa.
I know Linda is not particularly liked, among FC followers. Compared to Robin Agretti she was very appealing, in my view.
Cole's lover Katherine Demerey in 2026.
The Caproni girl, from the second and third season.
Vince is working, in his Tuscany Valley bakery. Linda visits her father, only to find him very emotional. The reason for his morose demeanour is absolute contempt for the Gioberti family; (a scene from season 3, 1983 - '84):
......"Falcon Crest. Angela Channing that whole family they killed your mother. My Maria!"
Linda: "Papa but you can't blame Cole or his family for that."
Vince: "He is part of that family and you leave me for them!!!!"
Linda: "No!"
Vince then raises his arms in despair, exclaiming: "You have turned your back on the Caproni's sorrow. Get out! Get out of here now!"
Vince was working as a picker in the vineyards of Falcon Crest; after moving from his native Italy, where he worked as a baker in the Army. Angela burnt his shack and those of his co-workers so she could plant more vines. The workers were all forced to live in tents. This took its toll on Vince's wife Maria who sadly died, after 3 months in those horrid conditions.