Trouble getting a context sensitive field to show in people management template

We are configuring our people management template to use for the first time.  We are adding some of our context sensitive DFF segments to the form.  The context for these fields will be based on the security profile assigned.  This context sensitivity works OK from the normal assignment PUI.  However in the PMT what we see is that the field shows if the context is met AND there is a value in the field.  If there is no value in the field, even if the context is met, the field will not show.   The item is enabled, visible query/insert/update allowed,