gnome's panels cannot autohide horizontally

Binary package hint: gnome-panel

I understand that a lot of customizations need to be undertaken for one to realize what I am talking about here, and probably, none but the desktop customization junkies like me will find this annoyance. I therefore understand it its priority is low.
(this should therefore be regarded as a wishlist kind of requiest).

Gnome's panels do a good job of hiding horizontally when placed at the top of bottom edge of the display.
However, if one ever wishes to put a panel say in the middle-left or middle-right corner (I am still talking about an horizontally-oriented panel, not a vertically oriented one that hides along its length), one will soon find out that only using the manual handles will make that panel autohide along its width.

I was just wondering if there was anyway to make it possible for the panel to autohide along its width? If it is possible manually, I fail to see why it cannot be done automatically.

Steps to reproduce:
Right-click on a panel and select Add New Panel
With the new panel horizontally oriented, drag it to the middle of the screen, then to the left or right edge.
Apply the autohide feature, and click out of the panel. Nothing happens.
Raise that panel to the top edge of the screen and again click outside of the panel. The panel hides along its length.
Drag panel back to the middle and at one of the edges, right-click and select Properties.
Enable manual hide handles, close the dialog box and click on the edge-side hiding button. The panel hides along its width...

It is this last part that I am wondering how to have the panel do automatically.

Thanks for considering my wish.

PS: oh, by the way, I am using the latest ubuntu gutsy with all the updates, bells and whistles.