Using a Const Gtk::TextBuffer Object?

[Ami Tavory <atavory gmail com>]

  Hello,

  I've noticed that the method:
Glib::ustring Gtk::TextBuffer::get_text(bool include_hidden_chars=true);
  is non-const. Is this by design? Since it returns a Glib::ustring, *not* a reference, shouldn't it logically avoid
modifying a Gtk::TextBuffer object?

  I've run into this problem while writing a widget that
subclasses Gtk::TextView, but has a more Gtk::Entry-like interface. I
can only implement my widget's 
  Glib::ustring get_text() const 
 member by const-casting in the body of the method. Shouldn't the
const-cast be (if at all) in the body of Gtk::TextBuffer::get_text?

  Thanks,

  Ami