but if i take out the keys immediately the rio still continues to boot and it'll even go into it's playlist and start playing songs and stuff. is this normal

Yes.

Once you start the bootup process, as long as there is power to the player (which you have, because in-car there are two sources: "Switched" and "Memory") it will continue.

When you turn your car off and take the keys out, you will notice that the blue diode above the volume knob continues to flash for some time period you can set in Emplode. If you press one of the front panel buttons, you will see that the player comes back to life -- you can then play the stereo with the car shut off. This is by design.

tanstaafl.