Repository: pypa/virtualenv

Issue:
virtualenv ignores VIRTUALENV_ALWAYS_COPY environment variable
**Issue**

Virtualenv ignores `VIRTUALENV_ALWAYS_COPY` environment variable (it's important for wrappers like pipenv where we can't use it as flags).

For example, with `VIRTUALENV_COPIES` works as expected:

```console
VIRTUALENV_COPIES=1 virtualenv .venv -vvv --with-traceback && ls -al ./.venv/bin/python

lrwxrwxrwx 1 username username 4526456 apr 6 18:12 ./.venv/bin/python
```

but with `VIRTUALENV_ALWAYS_COPY` doesn't:

```console
VIRTUALENV_ALWAYS_COPY=1 virtualenv .venv -vvv --with-traceback && ls -al ./.venv/bin/python

lrwxrwxrwx 1 username username 16 apr 6 18:12 ./.venv/bin/python -> /usr/bin/python3
```



**Environment**

Provide at least:
- OS: Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS
- ``pip list`` of the host python where ``virtualenv`` is installed:

  ```console
    Package                      Version            
    ---------------------------- -------------------
    absl-py                      0.9.0              
    aiohttp                      3.6.2              
    aiohttp-socks                0.3.4              
    aiorpcX                      0.18.4             
    appdirs                      1.4.3              
    asn1crypto                   0.24.0             
    astor                        0.8.1              
    async-timeout                3.0.1              
    attrs                        19.3.0             
    backcall                     0.1.0              
    beautifulsoup4               4.6.0              
    bleach                       3.1.0              
    blessings                    1.7                
    bsddb3                       6.1.0              
    cachetools                   4.0.0              
    catfish                      1.4.4              
    certifi                      2019.3.9           
    cffi                         1.12.2             
    chardet                      3.0.4              
    Click                        7.0                
    colorama                     0.4.1              
    command-not-found            0.3                
    construct                    2.10.56            
    cryptography                 2.6.1              
    cupshelpers                  1.0                
    cycler                       0.10.0             
    Cython                       0.29.6             
    decorator                    4.3.2              
    defer                        1.0.6              
    defusedxml                   0.5.0              
    distlib                      0.3.0              
    distro                       1.4.0              
    distro-info                  0.18ubuntu0.18.04.1
    dnspython                    1.16.0             
    ecdsa                        0.15               
    Electrum                     3.3.8              
    entrypoints                  0.3                
    filelock                     3.0.12             
    Flask                        1.0.2              
    gast                         0.2.2              
    gitdb2                       2.0.5              
    GitPython                    2.1.11             
    google-auth                  1.11.1             
    google-auth-oauthlib         0.4.1              
    google-pasta                 0.1.8              
    gpg                          1.10.0             
    gpustat                      0.5.0              
    gramps                       5.1.1              
    grpcio                       1.27.2             
    Guake                        3.6.3              
    h5py                         2.9.0              
    html5lib                     1.0.1              
    httplib2                     0.12.1             
    idna                         2.7                
    idna-ssl                     1.1.0              
    ifaddr                       0.1.6              
    implicit                     0.3.8              
    importlib-metadata           1.5.0              
    importlib-resources          1.4.0              
    ipykernel                    5.1.0              
    ipython                      7.3.0              
    ipython-genutils             0.2.0              
    ipywidgets                   7.4.2              
    itsdangerous                 1.1.0              
    jedi                         0.13.3             
    jeepney                      0.4                
    Jinja2                       2.10               
    jsonrpclib-pelix             0.4.0              
    jsonschema                   3.0.1              
    jupyter                      1.0.0              
    jupyter-client               5.2.4              
    jupyter-console              6.0.0              
    jupyter-core                 4.4.0              
    kaggle                       1.5.3              
    Keras-Applications           1.0.8              
    Keras-Preprocessing          1.1.0              
    keyring                      18.0.0             
    keyrings.alt                 3.1.1              
    kiwisolver                   1.0.1              
    language-selector            0.1                
    launchpadlib                 1.10.6             
    lazr.restfulclient           0.14.2             
    lazr.uri                     1.0.3              
    lightdm-gtk-greeter-settings 1.2.2              
    llvmlite                     0.27.1             
    lxml                         4.2.1              
    Mako                         1.0.7              
    Markdown                     2.6.9              
    MarkupSafe                   1.1.1              
    matplotlib                   3.0.3              
    meld                         3.18.0             
    menulibre                    2.2.0              
    mistune                      0.8.4              
    more-itertools               8.2.0              
    mugshot                      0.4.0              
    multidict                    4.7.5              
    nbconvert                    5.4.1              
    nbdiff                       1.0.3              
    nbdime                       1.0.5              
    nbformat                     4.4.0              
    netifaces                    0.10.9             
    networkx                     1.11               
    notebook                     5.7.6              
    numba                        0.42.1             
    numpy                        1.16.4             
    nvidia-ml-py3                7.352.0            
    oauth                        1.0.1              
    oauthlib                     3.0.1              
    olefile                      0.46               
    onboard                      1.4.1              
    op1repacker                  0.2.2              
    opencv-python                4.1.1.26           
    opt-einsum                   3.1.0              
    packaging                    20.3               
    pandas                       0.24.1             
    pandocfilters                1.4.2              
    parso                        0.3.4              
    patsy                        0.5.1              
    pbr                          5.1.3              
    pexpect                      4.6.0              
    pickleshare                  0.7.5              
    Pillow                       5.4.1              
    pip                          20.0.2             
    pipenv                       2018.11.26         
    pluggy                       0.13.1             
    prometheus-client            0.6.0              
    prompt-toolkit               2.0.9              
    protobuf                     3.11.3             
    psutil                       5.6.1              
    ptyprocess                   0.6.0              
    py                           1.8.1              
    pyaes                        1.6.1              
    pyasn1                       0.4.8              
    pyasn1-modules               0.2.8              
    PyAudio                      0.2.11             
    pycairo                      1.16.2             
    pycparser                    2.19               
    pycrypto                     2.6.1              
    pycups                       1.9.73             
    pycurl                       7.43.0.1           
    pyenchant                    2.0.0              
    Pygments                     2.3.1              
    pygobject                    3.26.1             
    pygraphviz                   1.4rc1             
    pygtkspellcheck              4.0.5              
    PyICU                        2.4.2              
    pyparsing                    2.3.1              
    pyrsistent                   0.14.11            
    PySimpleSOAP                 1.16.2             
    PySocks                      1.6.5              
    pytest                       5.4.1              
    python-apt                   1.6.5+ubuntu0.2    
    python-dateutil              2.8.0              
    python-debian                0.1.34             
    python-debianbts             2.8.2              
    Python-fontconfig            0.5.1              
    python-Levenshtein           0.12.0             
    python-magic                 0.4.16             
    python-miio                  0.4.8              
    python-slugify               3.0.0              
    pytz                         2018.9             
    pyxdg                        0.26               
    PyYAML                       3.13               
    pyzmq                        18.0.1             
    QDarkStyle                   2.6.8              
    qrcode                       6.1                
    qtconsole                    4.4.3              
    reportlab                    3.5.13             
    requests                     2.21.0             
    requests-oauthlib            1.3.0              
    requests-unixsocket          0.1.5              
    rsa                          4.0                
    scikit-learn                 0.20.3             
    scipy                        1.4.1              
    screen-resolution-extra      0.0.0              
    seaborn                      0.9.0              
    SecretStorage                3.1.1              
    Send2Trash                   1.5.0              
    setuptools                   45.2.0             
    sgt-launcher                 0.2.4              
    simplegeneric                0.8.1              
    simplejson                   3.16.0             
    six                          1.12.0             
    smmap2                       2.0.5              
    ssh-import-id                5.7                
    statsmodels                  0.9.0              
    stevedore                    1.30.1             
    svg.path                     3.0                
    systemd-python               234                
    tabulate                     0.8.3              
    tensorboard                  2.1.0              
    tensorflow                   2.1.0              
    tensorflow-estimator         2.1.0              
    termcolor                    1.1.0              
    terminado                    0.8.1              
    testpath                     0.4.2              
    text-unidecode               1.2                
    torbrowser-launcher          0.3.2              
    torch                        1.4.0              
    tornado                      6.0.1              
    tqdm                         4.31.1             
    traitlets                    4.3.2              
    typing-extensions            3.7.4.1            
    ubuntu-drivers-common        0.0.0              
    ufw                          0.36               
    umap-learn                   0.3.7              
    unattended-upgrades          0.1                
    Unidecode                    1.0.23             
    urllib3                      1.24.1             
    virtualenv                   20.0.16            
    virtualenv-clone             0.5.1              
    virtualenvwrapper            4.8.4              
    wadllib                      1.3.3              
    wcwidth                      0.1.7              
    webencodings                 0.5.1              
    Werkzeug                     0.15.2             
    wheel                        0.33.1             
    widgetsnbextension           3.4.2              
    wrapt                        1.11.2             
    xcffib                       0.7.0              
    xkit                         0.0.0              
    yarl                         1.4.2              
    youtube-dl                   2020.1.24          
    zeroconf                     0.24.4             
    zipp                         3.1.0              
    zope.interface               4.6.
  ```

**Output of the virtual environment creation**

Make sure to run the creation with `-vvv --with-traceback`:

```console
VIRTUALENV_COPIES=1 virtualenv .venv -vvv --with-traceback && ls -al ./.venv/bin/python
34 setup logging to NOTSET [DEBUG report:43]
67 find interpreter for spec PythonSpec(path=/usr/bin/python3) [INFO builtin:44]
67 proposed PythonInfo(spec=CPython3.6.9.final.0-64, exe=/usr/bin/python3, platform=linux, version='3.6.9 (default, Nov  7 2019, 10:44:02) \n[GCC 8.3.0]', encoding_fs_io=utf-8-UTF-8) [INFO builtin:50]
67 accepted PythonInfo(spec=CPython3.6.9.final.0-64, exe=/usr/bin/python3, platform=linux, version='3.6.9 (default, Nov  7 2019, 10:44:02) \n[GCC 8.3.0]', encoding_fs_io=utf-8-UTF-8) [DEBUG builtin:52]
68 filesystem is case-sensitive [DEBUG info:28]
101 create virtual environment via CPython3Posix(dest=/tmp/virt/.venv, clear=False, global=False) [INFO session:52]
101 write /tmp/virt/.venv/pyvenv.cfg [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:34]
101 	home = /usr [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
101 	implementation = CPython [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
101 	version_info = 3.6.9.final.0 [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
101 	virtualenv = 20.0.16 [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
101 	include-system-site-packages = false [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
101 	base-prefix = /usr [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
101 	base-exec-prefix = /usr [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
101 	base-executable = /usr/bin/python3 [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
101 remove file /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/python [DEBUG _sync:34]
102 copy /usr/bin/python3 to /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/python [DEBUG _sync:48]
105 copy /usr/bin/python3 to /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/python3 [DEBUG _sync:48]
108 copy /usr/bin/python3 to /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/python3.6 [DEBUG _sync:48]
110 create virtualenv import hook file /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/_virtualenv.pth [DEBUG api:76]
110 create /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/_virtualenv.py [DEBUG api:79]
110 ============================== target debug ============================== [DEBUG session:54]
111 debug via /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/python /home/username/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/virtualenv/create/debug.py [DEBUG creator:187]
110 {
  "sys": {
    "executable": "/tmp/virt/.venv/bin/python",
    "_base_executable": null,
    "prefix": "/tmp/virt/.venv",
    "base_prefix": "/usr",
    "real_prefix": null,
    "exec_prefix": "/tmp/virt/.venv",
    "base_exec_prefix": "/usr",
    "path": [
      "/usr/lib/python36.zip",
      "/usr/lib/python3.6",
      "/usr/lib/python3.6/lib-dynload",
      "/tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages"
    ],
    "meta_path": [
      "<class '_virtualenv._Finder'>",
      "<class '_frozen_importlib.BuiltinImporter'>",
      "<class '_frozen_importlib.FrozenImporter'>",
      "<class '_frozen_importlib_external.PathFinder'>"
    ],
    "fs_encoding": "utf-8",
    "io_encoding": "UTF-8"
  },
  "version": "3.6.9 (default, Nov  7 2019, 10:44:02) \n[GCC 8.3.0]",
  "os": "<module 'os' from '/usr/lib/python3.6/os.py'>",
  "site": "<module 'site' from '/usr/lib/python3.6/site.py'>",
  "datetime": "<module 'datetime' from '/usr/lib/python3.6/datetime.py'>",
  "math": "<module 'math' (built-in)>",
  "json": "<module 'json' from '/usr/lib/python3.6/json/__init__.py'>"
} [DEBUG session:55]
133 add seed packages via FromAppData(download=False, pip=latest, setuptools=latest, wheel=latest, via=copy, app_data_dir=/home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1) [INFO session:59]
134 Attempting to acquire lock 139699908152848 on /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/wheels.lock [DEBUG filelock:270]
134 Lock 139699908152848 acquired on /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/wheels.lock [INFO filelock:274]
134 get bundled wheel /home/username/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/virtualenv/seed/embed/wheels/pip-20.0.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl [DEBUG acquire:51]
134 get bundled wheel /home/username/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/virtualenv/seed/embed/wheels/setuptools-46.1.3-py3-none-any.whl [DEBUG acquire:51]
135 get bundled wheel /home/username/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/virtualenv/seed/embed/wheels/wheel-0.34.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl [DEBUG acquire:51]
136 install wheel from wheel /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/wheels/wheel-0.34.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl via CopyPipInstall [DEBUG via_app_data:46]
136 install setuptools from wheel /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/wheels/setuptools-46.1.3-py3-none-any.whl via CopyPipInstall [DEBUG via_app_data:46]
136 install pip from wheel /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/wheels/pip-20.0.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl via CopyPipInstall [DEBUG via_app_data:46]
137 copy directory /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/wheel-0.34.2-py2.py3-none-any/wheel-0.34.2.dist-info to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/wheel-0.34.2.dist-info [DEBUG _sync:48]
138 copy directory /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/setuptools-46.1.3-py3-none-any/pkg_resources to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/pkg_resources [DEBUG _sync:48]
140 copy directory /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/wheel-0.34.2-py2.py3-none-any/wheel to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/wheel [DEBUG _sync:48]
144 copy /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/wheel-0.34.2-py2.py3-none-any/wheel-0.34.2.virtualenv to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/wheel-0.34.2.virtualenv [DEBUG _sync:48]
144 copy directory /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/setuptools-46.1.3-py3-none-any/setuptools-46.1.3.dist-info to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/setuptools-46.1.3.dist-info [DEBUG _sync:48]
145 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/wheel-3.6 to 775 [INFO util:566]
145 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/wheel3 to 775 [INFO util:566]
145 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/wheel to 775 [INFO util:566]
145 generated console scripts wheel-3.6 wheel wheel3 [DEBUG base:53]
148 copy directory /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/setuptools-46.1.3-py3-none-any/setuptools to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/setuptools [DEBUG _sync:48]
150 copy directory /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/pip-20.0.2-py2.py3-none-any/pip to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/pip [DEBUG _sync:48]
158 copy /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/setuptools-46.1.3-py3-none-any/easy_install.py to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/easy_install.py [DEBUG _sync:48]
158 copy /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/setuptools-46.1.3-py3-none-any/setuptools-46.1.3.virtualenv to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/setuptools-46.1.3.virtualenv [DEBUG _sync:48]
159 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/easy_install3 to 775 [INFO util:566]
159 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/easy_install to 775 [INFO util:566]
159 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/easy_install-3.6 to 775 [INFO util:566]
159 generated console scripts easy_install3 easy_install easy_install-3.6 [DEBUG base:53]
177 copy /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/pip-20.0.2-py2.py3-none-any/pip-20.0.2.virtualenv to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/pip-20.0.2.virtualenv [DEBUG _sync:48]
177 copy directory /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/pip-20.0.2-py2.py3-none-any/pip-20.0.2.dist-info to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/pip-20.0.2.dist-info [DEBUG _sync:48]
178 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/pip3 to 775 [INFO util:566]
178 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/pip3.6 to 775 [INFO util:566]
178 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/pip-3.6 to 775 [INFO util:566]
178 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/pip to 775 [INFO util:566]
179 generated console scripts pip3 pip3.6 pip pip-3.6 [DEBUG base:53]
179 Attempting to release lock 139699908152848 on /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/wheels.lock [DEBUG filelock:315]
179 Lock 139699908152848 released on /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/wheels.lock [INFO filelock:318]
179 add activators for Bash, CShell, Fish, PowerShell, Python, Xonsh [INFO session:65]
180 write /tmp/virt/.venv/pyvenv.cfg [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:34]
180 	home = /usr [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
180 	implementation = CPython [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
180 	version_info = 3.6.9.final.0 [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
180 	virtualenv = 20.0.16 [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
180 	include-system-site-packages = false [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
180 	base-prefix = /usr [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
180 	base-exec-prefix = /usr [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
180 	base-executable = /usr/bin/python3 [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
180 created virtual environment CPython3.6.9.final.0-64 in 147ms
  creator CPython3Posix(dest=/tmp/virt/.venv, clear=False, global=False)
  seeder FromAppData(download=False, pip=latest, setuptools=latest, wheel=latest, via=copy, app_data_dir=/home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1)
  activators BashActivator,CShellActivator,FishActivator,PowerShellActivator,PythonActivator,XonshActivator [WARNING __main__:21]
-rwxr-xr-x 1 username username 4526456 apr  6 18:14 ./.venv/bin/python


```

```console
VIRTUALENV_ALWAYS_COPY=1 virtualenv .venv -vvv --with-traceback && ls -al ./.venv/bin/python
34 setup logging to NOTSET [DEBUG report:43]
66 find interpreter for spec PythonSpec(path=/usr/bin/python3) [INFO builtin:44]
66 proposed PythonInfo(spec=CPython3.6.9.final.0-64, exe=/usr/bin/python3, platform=linux, version='3.6.9 (default, Nov  7 2019, 10:44:02) \n[GCC 8.3.0]', encoding_fs_io=utf-8-UTF-8) [INFO builtin:50]
66 accepted PythonInfo(spec=CPython3.6.9.final.0-64, exe=/usr/bin/python3, platform=linux, version='3.6.9 (default, Nov  7 2019, 10:44:02) \n[GCC 8.3.0]', encoding_fs_io=utf-8-UTF-8) [DEBUG builtin:52]
67 filesystem is case-sensitive [DEBUG info:28]
99 create virtual environment via CPython3Posix(dest=/tmp/virt/.venv, clear=False, global=False) [INFO session:52]
99 write /tmp/virt/.venv/pyvenv.cfg [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:34]
99 	home = /usr [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
99 	implementation = CPython [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
99 	version_info = 3.6.9.final.0 [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
99 	virtualenv = 20.0.16 [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
99 	include-system-site-packages = false [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
99 	base-prefix = /usr [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
99 	base-exec-prefix = /usr [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
100 	base-executable = /usr/bin/python3 [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
100 remove file /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/python [DEBUG _sync:34]
100 symlink /usr/bin/python3 to /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/python [DEBUG _sync:40]
100 create virtualenv import hook file /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/_virtualenv.pth [DEBUG api:76]
100 create /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/_virtualenv.py [DEBUG api:79]
100 ============================== target debug ============================== [DEBUG session:54]
101 debug via /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/python /home/username/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/virtualenv/create/debug.py [DEBUG creator:187]
100 {
  "sys": {
    "executable": "/tmp/virt/.venv/bin/python",
    "_base_executable": null,
    "prefix": "/tmp/virt/.venv",
    "base_prefix": "/usr",
    "real_prefix": null,
    "exec_prefix": "/tmp/virt/.venv",
    "base_exec_prefix": "/usr",
    "path": [
      "/usr/lib/python36.zip",
      "/usr/lib/python3.6",
      "/usr/lib/python3.6/lib-dynload",
      "/tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages"
    ],
    "meta_path": [
      "<class '_virtualenv._Finder'>",
      "<class '_frozen_importlib.BuiltinImporter'>",
      "<class '_frozen_importlib.FrozenImporter'>",
      "<class '_frozen_importlib_external.PathFinder'>"
    ],
    "fs_encoding": "utf-8",
    "io_encoding": "UTF-8"
  },
  "version": "3.6.9 (default, Nov  7 2019, 10:44:02) \n[GCC 8.3.0]",
  "os": "<module 'os' from '/usr/lib/python3.6/os.py'>",
  "site": "<module 'site' from '/usr/lib/python3.6/site.py'>",
  "datetime": "<module 'datetime' from '/usr/lib/python3.6/datetime.py'>",
  "math": "<module 'math' (built-in)>",
  "json": "<module 'json' from '/usr/lib/python3.6/json/__init__.py'>"
} [DEBUG session:55]
123 add seed packages via FromAppData(download=False, pip=latest, setuptools=latest, wheel=latest, via=copy, app_data_dir=/home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1) [INFO session:59]
123 Attempting to acquire lock 140102569515832 on /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/wheels.lock [DEBUG filelock:270]
123 Lock 140102569515832 acquired on /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/wheels.lock [INFO filelock:274]
124 get bundled wheel /home/username/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/virtualenv/seed/embed/wheels/pip-20.0.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl [DEBUG acquire:51]
124 get bundled wheel /home/username/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/virtualenv/seed/embed/wheels/setuptools-46.1.3-py3-none-any.whl [DEBUG acquire:51]
124 get bundled wheel /home/username/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/virtualenv/seed/embed/wheels/wheel-0.34.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl [DEBUG acquire:51]
126 install wheel from wheel /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/wheels/wheel-0.34.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl via CopyPipInstall [DEBUG via_app_data:46]
126 install setuptools from wheel /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/wheels/setuptools-46.1.3-py3-none-any.whl via CopyPipInstall [DEBUG via_app_data:46]
126 install pip from wheel /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/wheels/pip-20.0.2-py2.py3-none-any.whl via CopyPipInstall [DEBUG via_app_data:46]
127 copy directory /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/wheel-0.34.2-py2.py3-none-any/wheel-0.34.2.dist-info to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/wheel-0.34.2.dist-info [DEBUG _sync:48]
128 copy directory /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/setuptools-46.1.3-py3-none-any/pkg_resources to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/pkg_resources [DEBUG _sync:48]
130 copy directory /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/wheel-0.34.2-py2.py3-none-any/wheel to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/wheel [DEBUG _sync:48]
134 copy /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/wheel-0.34.2-py2.py3-none-any/wheel-0.34.2.virtualenv to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/wheel-0.34.2.virtualenv [DEBUG _sync:48]
135 copy directory /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/setuptools-46.1.3-py3-none-any/setuptools-46.1.3.dist-info to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/setuptools-46.1.3.dist-info [DEBUG _sync:48]
135 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/wheel-3.6 to 775 [INFO util:566]
136 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/wheel3 to 775 [INFO util:566]
136 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/wheel to 775 [INFO util:566]
136 generated console scripts wheel-3.6 wheel3 wheel [DEBUG base:53]
138 copy directory /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/setuptools-46.1.3-py3-none-any/setuptools to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/setuptools [DEBUG _sync:48]
140 copy directory /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/pip-20.0.2-py2.py3-none-any/pip to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/pip [DEBUG _sync:48]
149 copy /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/setuptools-46.1.3-py3-none-any/easy_install.py to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/easy_install.py [DEBUG _sync:48]
149 copy /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/setuptools-46.1.3-py3-none-any/setuptools-46.1.3.virtualenv to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/setuptools-46.1.3.virtualenv [DEBUG _sync:48]
150 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/easy_install to 775 [INFO util:566]
150 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/easy_install-3.6 to 775 [INFO util:566]
150 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/easy_install3 to 775 [INFO util:566]
150 generated console scripts easy_install easy_install-3.6 easy_install3 [DEBUG base:53]
167 copy /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/pip-20.0.2-py2.py3-none-any/pip-20.0.2.virtualenv to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/pip-20.0.2.virtualenv [DEBUG _sync:48]
168 copy directory /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/image/CopyPipInstall/pip-20.0.2-py2.py3-none-any/pip-20.0.2.dist-info to /tmp/virt/.venv/lib/python3.6/site-packages/pip-20.0.2.dist-info [DEBUG _sync:48]
168 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/pip3.6 to 775 [INFO util:566]
168 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/pip to 775 [INFO util:566]
169 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/pip3 to 775 [INFO util:566]
169 changing mode of /tmp/virt/.venv/bin/pip-3.6 to 775 [INFO util:566]
169 generated console scripts pip-3.6 pip3.6 pip pip3 [DEBUG base:53]
169 Attempting to release lock 140102569515832 on /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/wheels.lock [DEBUG filelock:315]
169 Lock 140102569515832 released on /home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1/3.6/wheels.lock [INFO filelock:318]
169 add activators for Bash, CShell, Fish, PowerShell, Python, Xonsh [INFO session:65]
170 write /tmp/virt/.venv/pyvenv.cfg [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:34]
170 	home = /usr [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
170 	implementation = CPython [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
170 	version_info = 3.6.9.final.0 [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
170 	virtualenv = 20.0.16 [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
170 	include-system-site-packages = false [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
170 	base-prefix = /usr [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
170 	base-exec-prefix = /usr [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
170 	base-executable = /usr/bin/python3 [DEBUG pyenv_cfg:38]
170 created virtual environment CPython3.6.9.final.0-64 in 137ms
  creator CPython3Posix(dest=/tmp/virt/.venv, clear=False, global=False)
  seeder FromAppData(download=False, pip=latest, setuptools=latest, wheel=latest, via=copy, app_data_dir=/home/username/.local/share/virtualenv/seed-app-data/v1.0.1)
  activators BashActivator,CShellActivator,FishActivator,PowerShellActivator,PythonActivator,XonshActivator [WARNING __main__:21]
lrwxrwxrwx 1 username username 16 apr  6 18:20 ./.venv/bin/python -> /usr/bin/python3


```



Discussion:
This is more a feature request than a bug, though I gather we can do something to make this work.

Resolving patch:
diff --git a/src/virtualenv/config/cli/parser.py b/src/virtualenv/config/cli/parser.py
--- a/src/virtualenv/config/cli/parser.py
+++ b/src/virtualenv/config/cli/parser.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 from argparse import SUPPRESS, ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter, ArgumentParser
+from collections import OrderedDict
 
 from virtualenv.config.convert import get_type
 
@@ -38,9 +39,17 @@ def _fix_defaults(self):
     def _fix_default(self, action):
         if hasattr(action, "default") and hasattr(action, "dest") and action.default != SUPPRESS:
             as_type = get_type(action)
-            outcome = get_env_var(action.dest, as_type)
+            names = OrderedDict((i.lstrip("-").replace("-", "_"), None) for i in action.option_strings)
+            outcome = None
+            for name in names:
+                outcome = get_env_var(name, as_type)
+                if outcome is not None:
+                    break
             if outcome is None and self.file_config:
-                outcome = self.file_config.get(action.dest, as_type)
+                for name in names:
+                    outcome = self.file_config.get(name, as_type)
+                    if outcome is not None:
+                        break
             if outcome is not None:
                 action.default, action.default_source = outcome
 
diff --git a/src/virtualenv/create/via_global_ref/api.py b/src/virtualenv/create/via_global_ref/api.py
--- a/src/virtualenv/create/via_global_ref/api.py
+++ b/src/virtualenv/create/via_global_ref/api.py
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@ def can_symlink(self):
 class ViaGlobalRefApi(Creator):
     def __init__(self, options, interpreter):
         super(ViaGlobalRefApi, self).__init__(options, interpreter)
-        self.symlinks = getattr(options, "copies", False) is False
+        copies = getattr(options, "copies", False)
+        symlinks = getattr(options, "symlinks", False)
+        self.symlinks = symlinks is True and copies is False
         self.enable_system_site_package = options.system_site
 
     @classmethod


Test patch:
diff --git a/tests/unit/config/test_env_var.py b/tests/unit/config/test_env_var.py
--- a/tests/unit/config/test_env_var.py
+++ b/tests/unit/config/test_env_var.py
@@ -46,3 +46,24 @@ def test_extra_search_dir_via_env_var(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     (tmp_path / "c").mkdir()
     result = parse_cli(["venv"])
     assert result.seeder.extra_search_dir == [Path("a").resolve(), Path("b").resolve(), Path("c").resolve()]
+
+
+def test_value_alias(monkeypatch, mocker, empty_conf):
+    from virtualenv.config.cli.parser import VirtualEnvConfigParser
+
+    prev = VirtualEnvConfigParser._fix_default
+
+    def func(self, action):
+        if action.dest == "symlinks":
+            action.default = True  # force symlink to be true
+        elif action.dest == "copies":
+            action.default = False  # force default copy to be False, we expect env-var to flip it
+        return prev(self, action)
+
+    mocker.patch("virtualenv.run.VirtualEnvConfigParser._fix_default", side_effect=func, autospec=True)
+
+    monkeypatch.delenv(str("SYMLINKS"), raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.delenv(str("VIRTUALENV_COPIES"), raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setenv(str("VIRTUALENV_ALWAYS_COPY"), str("1"))
+    result = parse_cli(["venv"])
+    assert result.creator.symlinks is False
diff --git a/tests/unit/seed/test_boostrap_link_via_app_data.py b/tests/unit/seed/test_boostrap_link_via_app_data.py
--- a/tests/unit/seed/test_boostrap_link_via_app_data.py
+++ b/tests/unit/seed/test_boostrap_link_via_app_data.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 
 @pytest.mark.slow
-@pytest.mark.timeout(timeout=60)
+@pytest.mark.timeout(timeout=120)
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("copies", [False, True] if fs_supports_symlink() else [True])
 def test_seed_link_via_app_data(tmp_path, coverage_env, current_fastest, copies):
     current = PythonInfo.current_system()