Near as I can tell - Noel posted a really well laid out explanation as to why work flow variations in 8.5.3 allowed what they did, but that those variations were not at all intended allowances, but rather were development deficiencies.
They cleaned up those deficiencies in the X series, with X33 representing the current pinnacle of current development.
Bottom line is that while those 8.5.3 variances have been creatively used to construct a work flow that really works well for a single user, they were never intended to be there, and are now gone, and will not be coming back.
I have no issue with the OP having discovered those functional allowances in 8.5.3, and for building an efficient work flow for himself from those.
Those things that worked like that were not intended, and were tightened up now, and that\'s quite simply that.
If your work flow is that attached to being able to continue to do whatever you are able to do with 8.5.3, then by all means have a blast continuing to do so.
If you want to use X3e for anything, great, have a blast doing so.
Continuing this particular thread, however, is in my opinion a colossal waste of time, both for the OP, and for those who for some reason are still following it.
There's no need to be bashing the OP for wanting to continue to use techniques that work well for him - those techniques will continue to work well for him, in 8.5.3, and no further in the product line.
Everybody, please move on from this thread, as it has become the Python Parrot, not pining for the fjords, not stunned - it is dead, deceased, it is no more, it is a non-parrot.
Bob Bone