The current version of FTM2014 only provides that the "shared" concept applies to facts dealing with partners or marriages. (ie marriage, divorce, etc.)

The idea you have of a linked fact among participants of an event, even extending to labeling the roles of people in the event, has been discussed here several times over the years, to no avail thus far.

I don't know where you heard that FTM has explicitly said they wouldn't add that feature, but it would appear that FTM does not want to make major changes in its database structure. One reason is that it will slow down FTM from the slow speed that it already has with larger databases, increase crashes, etc. In other words, such a big change in the database just gives more chances of things going wrong and unintended consequences. Also since they have gone to a biennial change to their software, it seems clear they have reduced their devolopment team and are basically treading water when it comes to changes. They don't even mention FTM in their financial statement to the press, only bragging about their databases - which is their cash cow.

There are two options that I have used:

1) Use the facility within FTM to copy and paste facts (along with associated media and sources) from one person to another person, or even the family of another person (parents, siblings, spouses, and children.)

2) Link (not duplicate) sources from one fact to another. You can then see the individuals attached to that source in Sources, or in the upper right corner of a citation - where a link exists to show "30 people attached to this source". You can also get a report of those people.