when you go from one layout to another, the properties container should update to show properties for the currently selected object/instance in the current/new layout, not the previous layouts...to stop confusion.
It makes more sense that the last selected object is the one displayed in the properties.
When you switch tabs, you don't select a new object, so it make no sense to change the properties displayed.
Also it allows you to select an object, switch to an event sheet and have a look on some values or whatever, which is pretty practical.
Also you can already do new folders in the "object type" bar with the licensed version.