OK, I just want to confirm-

 

On other gen 2s (mine is an '03 outback), do the low beam filaments stay

on when the high-beams are selected, or do I have a stuck relay?

       

I edited your topic title so it's a little clearer.

 

What bulb are you running, H4's?

Was the way they behaved when I bought the car with 55k miles- low beam filament stays on with the high beams.

I don't think the low beams should stay on....but hopefully someone with an 00-04 Legacy/Outback can confirm.

who wants to burn your eyes trying to figure it out? not me! if its bright with normal lights then brighter with your brights..... I think its working fine..... the best way to keep your bulbs fresh it to use only for extended periods of time and never "flash" your lights this momentarily heats/cools your lights and unevenly heats the filament causing it to stretch making a weak point where it will eventually fail.   

Low-beam on with high-beams is bad because the near bright wash of light drowns out the further off dim returning light.

 

I just want to be sure it's just not a stuck relay before i set out to make it work properly (lows off with highs).

Which headlights does your car have? If I'm not mistaken, all Outbacks of that generation should have the dual bulb headlights. On every Legacy GT/Outback I've seen with these, the low beams did stay on when the highs come on. I've seen a few where one low beam was burnt out, and that side looked kinda funny with just the high beam bulb lit compared to the other side with both. 

Yeah it's like the old Quad 4 setup on old DL's and 2nd gen EA cars.

 

Lows stay on with the Highs.

 

Also lows will be on as DRL anytime engine running with park brake off.