Comment 27 for bug 688816

This is not fixed (or perhaps it's a regression) in unity-2d 4.12.0-0ubuntu1, using oneiric (fully updated). Metacity still places windows under (over?) the launcher causing it to hide.
Perhaps one should kill two birds with one stone, and implement the "smart" window placement mode from compiz in metacity, and at the same time make sure no new windows occupy the space under the launcher. This would much better reflect the defaults of unity (3d).