[m2] Is this correct behavior for optional dependency?

[David Jackman]

Based on my reading of the docs and the mail archives, adding
<optional>true</optional> to a dependency should affect other projects
that depend on my project, but not affect the building of my own
project.  Is that true?  Right now, I'm seeing otherwise.  If I mark a
dependency as optional, then it's not included in my own project build,
and therefore the compilation fails.  
 
..David..