GMail contacts search box (even if Chat is minimized, turned off)

Many of us have used GMail chat gadget’s search box to search for contacts, either to

Chat instantly with someone,
View recent conversations with the contact,
View Orkut profile of the contact or
Send an email to the contact.

Sometime back, When you minimise the chat gadget (by clicking the minus button in the gadget), you will not be able to search the contacts as simply as we do with the chat box.

Now, you can see a most welcome change in GMail chat gadget that, the contact search box is visible even if you have,

Turned off the chat (which just Signs off you from Chat),
Minimise the chat gadget (the search box is still available).