Modal Dialogs/Windows

If I have a modal window (say with Microsoft Outlook) I am unable to click
on a window behind it or part of the same application.  With modal
dialogs/windows under GTK I can click to focus windows behind the modal
window.  Is this intended?

I do prefere the way that it is done (because there is usually information
on a window behind the modal window that you need access to, e.g. Microsoft
Outlooks "filters" window), however, there are people in my team which
believe it should be done strictly as Microsoft does it.  Is this something
you would consider improving on?

Regards,
Martyn