This isn't specific to Graphene, it's just how the app was designed. I have the same semi-random behavior.

What really bites is when you're in the middle of typing a note, go to your browser to get a link, or copy other info, then return to a loading feed.

This is a defect that removes user data (in the note creation scenario). The places I've worked would consider this a critical "show stopper" defect. Storing your last state locally could solve this, but "local storage" seems to be forbidden for Amethyst devs.