The GEM stuff should give you back your functionality when its finished shortly.
Intel is pushing it because its been languishing for YEARS. And they finally have something worth pushing for it.
Yes, it does seem like Intel is hugely buffeting Xorg and the Linux kernel in this area. But, its better than what happened in the 2.4.9-.11 fiasco when Linus dropped on version of the scheduler for another lock, stock and barrel.