Inconsistent [_THIS.ROW] Behavior on Form submission based on DATE

[Sorweel]

In my budget app, when I want to add a new transaction I'm getting inconsistent behavior utilizing formula using data in the row I'm adding.

Scenario 1 : I use ACCOUNT NAME to automatically search and set ACCOUNT ID and ACCOUNT # automatically from a list and set them as Initial Value using SELECT and [_THIS.ROW].[ACCOUNT NAME].  Everything works as intended.  I can even switch Account Name in the form and Initial Values of ID and # update accordingly after form submission.

But when working with a DATE in the form, I cannot ever get it to recognize manual values I want to input.

Scenario 2:  I use DATE to set MONTH (formula calculating first day of the month from _THIS.ROW's DATE) and WEEK (formula calculating the date of the first day of the week from _THIS.ROW's DATE).

I get two completely different behaviors.  If I set the Initial Value of DATE to be blank, then MONTH is blank and WEEK is 1/1/70 after I submit the form no matter what I put in the DATE of the form.

If I set the initial value of DATE to be TODAY() or any other DATE, MONTH and WEEK are set correctly based on the DATE of TODAY() even though I am setting a completely different date in the DATE column in the submission form.

Why are the behaviors inconsistent with DATE?  I've even tried _THIS.ROW_AFTER and putting the formula in the "formula" and "Initial Value".  All results in Scenario 2 above.  I'd just like it to operate using the data I'm submitting in the form....Like it does with ACCOUNT NAME....

Any ideas why DATE is special?