http://bugs.winehq.org/show_bug.cgi?id=30057
--- Comment #37 from rocko rockorequin@hotmail.com 2012-03-14 22:17:27 CDT --- XI2 provides the raw mouse data as XGenericEventCookie's data.raw_values, while it provides the valuators as data.valuators.values (see the patch in #31, which fixes the 'crazy mouse' problem).
The raw_values are always relative but it appears that XI2 used to return raw values until v2.1 where it was changed to return the absolute values in valuators.value.
If what Peter H says is correct this is a bugfix rather than a regression, meaning it will never be changed back. To quote:
"... we actually have to provide absolute valuators since XI doesn't allow us to report relative values in valuators. This is basically the reason for RawEvents"
Based on the git logs in libxi, Peter H looks like he should know what he's talking about.