If Jane says it's a bug, then who am I to argue
I've made the change here for the next build (12.41)
>> Can this same functionality be done in a web application.
Sure. You web server program can connect to the active directory just fine using the NetLdap classes.
Of course your _web server_ program will do the connecting to the AD server, not the browser client. But you can do all the AD stuff in the background, and plug it onto any web page you like.
Cheers
Bruce