Template directives do not function on template in polymer-element

[sorvell]

Given:

 <polymer-element name="my-element">
   <template if="{{stuff}}">
   </template>
   ...
 </polymer-element>

The if direction here is ignored. Likewise other template directives repeat and bind are ignored.

This has been a source of confusion for users. Polymer should either (1) warn if these directives are used where they will not apply or (2) wrap the template to make this work.

[addyosmani]

Is there a large implicit cost to (2)? (easier for users, but (1) isn't too bad of they know to watch for warnings)

[rafaelw]

Another variant would be something more explicit which controls the lifecycle of element. IOW, don't continue boot-up until a given data value is available. I've seen lots of code with filters on the element impl which has to check for bogus values being handed in because it gets run before the element has received any real data.

[tjsavage]

Closing this issue due to age and the release of version 1 of Polymer - please feel free to re-open if this is incorrect.