Okay, question - if you can make tool edits to a
text layer (filters, brushstrokes, etc.) and it will retain its
status as a text layer (albeit with some modifications, which
GIMP will warn you about if you try to edit the text later), why
do other operations (like changing layer size) turn it into a
normal (non-text) layer?
Uh? The only edits that don't seem to change the "text" status of a
text layer are those done using the text tool itself (and the Move
tool, of course)