I just tried installing Opera for Windows desktop and encountered the same cumbersome issue and lack of design implementation as the original poster.
Realizing that this has been already reported more than 5 years ago (!!!) and nothing has changed made me think, that this is just Opera's support, sucking b*llz.
However, I tried to file a bugs & suggestions report form anyhow on July 10th, 2024 with the following headline...
"Lack of vital and common functionality in other browsers now missing for - years - after having been reported countless times! (trackpad gestures for "go back to last page" and "go forward to next page")"
...and now, more than a months has passed and after having repeatedly and multiple times updated said form with the same request of implementing this functionality, nothing has happened.
On the contrary, the system for reporting those bugs filed the following response - immediately - after the report had been sent in (literally in the same moment)...
Automatic response
10/Jul/24 4:25 PM
Your request status has changed to Done.
...which clearly indicates, that Opera doesn't give a sh*t about our requests, suggestions and reported bugs or if we use their browser or not.
Hence, I uninstalled Opera and am now going back to Chrome and Firefox. A pity, since the opposite can be said about both topics for Opera Android where people both have listened to critique and suggestions as well as all the necessary functions implemented to make it the best browser for that platform.
Would Opera Desktop just have listened and implemented the trackpad feature of swiping forth and back - which not having implemented yet in the year 2024 is as hilarious as it is riduculous - I would have been on board and ditched Chrome in favor of Opera for Windows.
Good luck with increasing your customer base, Opera.
You'll need it.