2009/3/17 Anssi Hannula [off-list ref]:

quoted

So my actual question is: How can I use force feedback of a joystick without
setting global read/write permissions to /dev/input/eventX?

The distribution should configure joystick eventX devices to
either have global read/write access, or read/write access for one group
(which the user is in), or have it chown the device to logged-in user,
depending on distribution conventions.

One can identify joystick devices from other eventX devices with udev
variable ENV{ID_CLASS}="joystick", or with existence of
"/dev/input/by-path/*-event-joystick", which is a symlink to the eventX
device.

Created bug report for ubuntu jaunty. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/344673
This wasn't a problem for ubuntu, because kernels prior to 2.6.28 were
missing force feedback support for hid devices.
You can make this rule yourself, here is a good manual:
http://www.reactivated.net/writing_udev_rules.html
Or just wait, I will make this rule and post it to bug report.