NuGet does not copy dependencies with higher version than the one specified - msbuild

Question

I have a Web project (W) which has a reference to a Class Library project (C):
W --> C
C references N1:
C --> N1
N1 is a custom NuGet Package that has two dependencies (both are also custom NuGet packages): N2 e N3, targeting version 2.1 or higher and 3.4 or higher, respectively.
N1 ---> N2 (>= 2.1)
`--> N3 (>= 3.4)
When I added the N1 package to C, N2 had a 2.2 version available, so NuGet got that one, instead of 2.1, as it was expected to do.
The problem starts here: when I build W, N2 is not copied to W's bin folder. I googled a bit, and found out that Visual Studio does not copy dependencies that are not "first class dependencies", that is, dependencies which are not used directly by C, to W's output folder. I can confirm that, because when I add the method below to any class in C, N2 gets copied.
private void ForceCopyOfN2()
{
var someObject = new N2.SomeClass();
}
Also, without the hack above, if I downgrade the version of N2 to the same version that is specified by the N1 package dependencies (i.e. from 2.2 to 2.1), N2 also gets copied.
So I am guessing this is an issue with NuGet. Has anyone experienced anything like this?

Answer 1

I was not able to repro this with VS 2012 targeting 4.5, here is what I tried
1. Create new web application project
2. Create new class library
3. Add reference from web application to the class library
4. in class library
PM> install-package windowsAzure.servicebus
Attempting to resolve dependency 'Microsoft.WindowsAzure.ConfigurationManager (≥ 1.7.0.0)'.
You are downloading Microsoft.WindowsAzure.ConfigurationManager from Microsoft, the license agreement to which is available at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=235167. Check the package for additional dependencies, which may come with their own license agreement(s). Your use of the package and dependencies constitutes your acceptance of their license agreements. If you do not accept the license agreement(s), then delete the relevant components from your device.
Successfully installed 'Microsoft.WindowsAzure.ConfigurationManager 1.7.0.3'.
You are downloading WindowsAzure.ServiceBus from Microsoft, the license agreement to which is available at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=218949. Check the package for additional dependencies, which may come with their own license agreement(s). Your use of the package and dependencies constitutes your acceptance of their license agreements. If you do not accept the license agreement(s), then delete the relevant components from your device.
Successfully installed 'WindowsAzure.ServiceBus 1.8.0.0'.
Successfully added 'Microsoft.WindowsAzure.ConfigurationManager 1.7.0.3' to ClassLibrary1.
Successfully added 'WindowsAzure.ServiceBus 1.8.0.0' to ClassLibrary1.
5. where service bus is dependent on configuration with >=1.7 and 1.8 version of configurationmanage is installed
6. build the classlibrary and then webapplication solution, refresh the solution explorer. For my solution I saw classlibrary, servicebus and configurationmanager are dropped in the bin folder. (not sure why but i saw the files dropped after I tried building classlibrary once again after adding the reference)
Is there something I am missing here?