Animation modifier: cant edit data on notify states

when you use a blueprint animation modifier to add a notify state to an animation you cant edit any of the data in the notify state. this is because the Add Animation Notify Event function returns an animation notify reference and notify states are not a child of animation notify. i understand that you cant set data in a notify state internally but as you can edit public variables on a state notify in the animation itself i thought you should be able to set public variables via a animation modifier.