Odd spacing with dynamics

[Jay Anderson]

\version "2.17.14"

\paper
{
  tagline = ##f
}

filler = \repeat unfold 6 {c4 c c c | \noBreak}

\score
{
  \new Staff \relative c'
  {
    c4 c c c | \noBreak
    c c2 c8 c |
    \filler
  }
}

\score
{
  \new Staff \relative c'
  {
    c4 c c c | \noBreak
    <<
      {c c2 c8 c |}
      {s2\< s\> s1*0\!}
    >>
    \filler
  }
}

In the second score above the half note is moved too close to the
eighth notes. This is a somewhat contrived example, but it looks worse
in a larger score I have on a line that gets a bit compressed.

I'm not sure if this is a known issue or not. What would be a good
workaround? Is there a way to make the spacing ignore the dynamics?
The best I've found so far is to align the dynamics with the rhythm:
c\< c2\> c8 c\!. Honestly, this is good enough, but the original
behavior surprised me.

Thanks.

-----Jay