So the Austrian Empire was a figment of the history books? The dual-monarchy of Austria-Hungary is an invention of revisionist history? You don't get to claim you're suddenly "gaining independence" when your empire collapses.
The democratic Republic of Austria in the version since 1918 (or better since 1945) and its borders have virtually nothing to do with the Monarchy before that. So of course it became independent. Independent of that vast, thrown-together political/monarchic construct.
So Austrians weren't in charge?
It's a valid point, of course, but I believe Austria never claimed to be a successor state to the Austria-Hungary, just as the Turkish Republic did their very best to make sure to everyone they're not a continuation of the Ottoman Empire.
I always found it very telling Austria outright abolished official traces of nobility (all "vons" were stricked down from names), as opposed to Germany, that preserved it as "part of a name" (yes, "Count von Something" is considered as part of a person's name in Germany). That's pretty clear sign of rejecting and repudiating the imperial past.
