files removed on uninstall event if saved to android external "persistent" locations

[ilovett]

When I write files to locations listed on http://ngcordova.com/docs/plugins/file/ as persistent, and then uninstall my app which seems to erase the entire external app directory. I'm trying to a specific file around even if the user uninstalls the app and reinstalls later on.

Specifically I've tried storing at cordova.file.externalData, cordova.file.externalCache, as well as cordova.file.dataDirectory.

The data did seem to stick around if I installed to externalApplicationStorageDirectory but that requires a big scary permission.

I'm not sure if this is because I deployed through cordova and perhaps the external directory wouldnt be deleted if the app was installed from the play store?

Perhaps I am misinterpreting what is meant by "persists" -- I would think this means sticks around after uninstall. I've actually not been able to track down a definition for this.