In doing modeling using an image plane you can just create a plane & place an image on it but all the above problems will incur. The proper way to get down to some serious modeling is to use the image plane imported through the *Camera Attribute Editor*. It will not be affected by x-ray or anything of the such. It is only a crisp image plane which can only be adjusted through its own attribute settings. Not those used in the Maya workspace. If any help is needed just post a reply.