@datatraveller1 ,
@Alan-Kilborn is right, if what you’re describing is true, although even after enabling the “Exit on Close the last tab” in the preferences dialog, I couldn’t reproduce your issue, so unless you didn’t enable the pin tab feature, and then click the pin, I don’t see how this could have happened. I tried several different variants of it, and couldn’t do it.
Even though I agree with you on trying to see the value of this feature, other than to keep a document pinned and to the left, and unable to be moved once it’s pinned, I see no other value of it for me. If people want it for some reason, good for them, it’s implemented, and fortunately, you also have the option to disable it, so…the OP’s statement to me, seems to exemplify excessive conditions.
I seldom have so many files open that they scroll off the screen, and frankly I find that kind of tab/file poor management and chaotic in nature. Between the File->Recent Files and the View->Document List features, I don’t see the purpose of having excessive amounts of files open at one time. Even assuming one has a header file open, and multiple dependent files open to look at, this seems like bad management, to me.
Even with web development, I would expect more open applications for graphics, FTP, word processor, etc, outside of Notepad++, than mutiple files of .css files, .html files, maybe scripts, etc inside of Notepad++ that wouldn’t be better off being managed (open/closed as needed) by using the Recent Files or Document List features or even the Project Panel or Folder As Workspace views to help manage a set of files in a project. I know some people work differently than perhaps I would, but it seems that excessive amounts of open files would lead to nothing more than confusion, accidental closures (which Pin Tab helps with) or editing the wrong file…etc. Might be just me though. :-)