Skins doesn't work if the server is in offline mode. They worked before snapshots!

I play on my server with my friend. He doesn't want to buy Minecraft, so he plays with Mineshafter. I just wanted to switch the server to snapshot because we can't wait for 1.8. I noticed that I don't have skin... I modified the 'online-mode' setting to true then I had my skin, but I spawned on the spawn, not at where I left the game. And I didn't have my stuff. Then I logged back in offline mode. I spawned at my house. In 1.7, I had the skin in offline mode too. I WANT IT BACK!!! This can't be intended!!! And I know this is a duplicate, but I couldn't stand it to report it again, because someone marked it as 'Intended'...