Your opinion is wrong.
I was recently playing on my new elementalist when I decided to summon a Flame Axe. Once equipped the skill bar switched over to express the skills for said Flame Axe. At the same time the skills slots 8 and 9 along with the elite skill slot unlocked but remained empty. While holding the flame axe I set a skill for each empty slot and once the Flame Axe ended the slots remained opened and set to the skills I had chosen.
At this point, being level 19, I should not have access to these slots. In addition, slots 8 and 9 are also unlocked underwater but the elite skill slot is locked underwater.
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