AI export layer bug

[gnurf]

I usually make my stock illustration in four layers, where I have one locked bitmap layer that I trace, one layer for the traced image, one layer for background objects and shadows, and one layer for shades and sometimes a layer for converted text.
When I export I deactivate the bitmap layer (making it hidden). I could of course delete but I prefer to keep it hidden instead of making unnecessary working files. When the exported ai-file is opened in Illustrator the background layer is hidden/invisible and locked and has the name of the bitmap layer (or I could say that the locked hidden layer is imported but contains the objects of the background layer).

[Albacore]

Paul can I ask why you use the AI export is it only to maintain your layer structure? I can't be bothered with text imported as grouped shapes and nearly always now use PDF but I have no stacked layers after importing.

[gnurf]

Paul can I ask why you use the AI export is it only to maintain your layer structure?

No, you may not

Just kidding. The reason why I'm exporting as AI is to keep the layers. The idea is that the customer can easily edit the stock image, for example remove the background. The converted text was just an example (sometimes I have speech balloon, and the text has to be converted due to all kinds of font restrictions).

If I use PDF the layers will be merged, and also the circular fills will be converted to bitmaps which is not acceptable.