Hi, currently I am using yet 1.1 specs, so I am trying to make simple what is too complex for me :p, managing backing beans with conflicting navigation rules, external params breaking rules and so on... for example when I need a backing bean used by other "views" simply I call it using FacesContext inside other backing beans, but often it's too wired up to JSF navigation/initialization rules to be really usable, and of course more simple is more useful become the FacesContext.
So with only a bit of cross browser Javascript (simply a form copy and a read-write on a "proxy" form), I create a sort of proxy form inside the main user page (totally disassociated from JSF navigation rules, but using JSF taglibs). Ajax gives me flexibility on the user interaction, but data is always managed by JSF.
Pratically I demand all "fictious" user actions to an hidden "iframe" which build up all needed forms according JSF rules, then a javascript simply clone its form output and put it into the user view level (CSS for showing/hiding real command buttons and making pretty), the user plays around and when he click submit, a script copies all "proxied" form values into the real JSF form inside the "iframe" that invokes the real submit of the form, what it returns is obviously dependent by your choice.
Now JSF is really a pleasure :-p
My real interest is to know what are your alternative strategy for using pure Ajax and JSF 1.1 without adopting middle layer like ajax4jsf and others, all good choices but too much "plugins" than specs.
