Why no background layer?

I've read posts on background layers, and I've learned a lot.  But I am puzzled at this:
I opened a .png file in PS CS5.  It appears as Layer 0 in the layer panel.  My impression is that "Layer 0" is the PS default for background layer.  However, this does not appear to be a background layer.  I can delete it.  I can create another layer and juxtapose the two.  If I go to Layer>New, I get the Background From Layer but not the Layer from Background option.
I thought the only time PS did not create a background layer is when a transparent background is specified for a new doc.
This is not a problem.  It doesn't prevent me from working.  But I do want to develop an understanding of how the software works.  Any comments would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Doc_Pit

The PNG format offers the possibility of partial transparency.
Photoshop only supports transparency on a true layer, not the background.
Thus, when Photoshop opens a PNG file, it loads the image data into Layer 0 and makes the layer partially transparent wherever transparency exists in the PNG file.  It does the same thing even if all the pixels in the PNG are 100% opaque.
-Noel

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