That change was indeed implemented and you can't currently edit metadata without going through Safe Edit first if you have workflow applied to the asset.
Bart out of curiosity, is there any reason that with workflow applied changes to metadata would appear live without approval?
I’ve got a std page (workflow applied) with metadata fields (dropdowns) used to populate a table on a page (this is done through a paint layout and asset listing asset). When I update the metadata fields in the std page asset (in Safe Edit) and click save, these changes are immediately appearing live without needing approval.
My main end game was to have the metadata go through workflow to approval and then move to live on a future status option. The information in the metadata is time based and should change over at midnight (would be great to not have to wait up as I currently do).
Sorry Bart, just saw your reply. We are on version 5.3.4.0. Further investigation looks like the asset listing was created but not actually used in the paint layout so disregard that. Basically it is Standard page with paint layout applied and metadata fields (one for each local government area and a yes/no dropdown against each). The paint layout references these metadata fields eg %asset_metadata_Sydney_value% to display the values in a colour coded table against each LGA name. When I make the page safe edit and then change metadata (even with workflow applied) the changes appear live (checked as a public used) before going through the approval process.
That’s strange, I can’t replicate at all in that version. Maybe there is something else going on. Best to send it in to Squiz Support for the guys to have a closer look.