This is not what it does ng-if. It simply creates or deletes an element based on the value.
What you want is to have a scope method that does these tests, call it isReadOnlyand have yours textarealike this:
<textarea
class="wm-textarea-notes"
ng-model="noteEdit.note_value"
columns="1"
placeholder="Add a note"
ng-readonly="isReadOnly()"></textarea>
, - , true false textarea, .