Re: [PATCH] Input: wacom - Add POINTER and DIRECT device properties

quoted

I think the bottom line is that even if the "directness" of a device
is configurable, it still needs to have a default. Moreover, the
notion of kernel mode settings could be applicable here too.

Talking about default mode, there are cases that the mode is decided
by the tools running on the device/tablet, instead of the tablet
itself.

Take Wacom's Intuos and Graphire series for example, those tablets
support both styli and mice. For styli, the default is absolute mode;
while for mice, it is relative. So, only valid property the tablet can
tell the user-land is: I am a tablet, i.e., not a touchscreen. Clients
have to check the tool types to set the default mode to relative
(BTN_TOOL_MOUSE/LENS) or absolute (BTN_TOOL_PEN/AIRBRUSH/RUBBER...).

And those modes can be determined using the available axes. However,
when all axes are the same, a statement like "I am a tablet" does not
exist. In that case, distinguishing between touchscreen, touchpad and
tablet becomes a question of interpreting the properties. Such a
distinction cannot be achieved using a single bit of information, and
that was never the intention.

In short: I think Chris' comments are spot on, and incorporating them
into the patch would be good to avoid further confusion.

Thanks,
Henrik