@Grumpy_Mike: I have been thinking about it. I like reading your stuff, and value your technical expertise. That is why I asked you.
The collector and emitter were not my concern. I will presume zero current from collector to emitter. Does the base-emitter junction pass any current in this setup, or is it blocked? Normally (and you say this is kinda "normal") the base-emitter current could be enough to light a LED dimly.