They definitely seem to process the signals differently.
Using the Daytona driveboard test menu,
xinput sends roll left to the left rumble motor and roll right to the right. The rumble continues until you roll the other way or centre.
SDL feels like it sends a signal to both motors, slightly more to the right, regardless of roll left or right, but only for about half a second then stops. The pulse is so short it's hard to tell exactly what's happening.
Its like an old radio, xinput has stereo rumble and SDL is mono.
Personally I prefer the mono style rumble. For me, a rumble pad will never be able to recreate the feeling of the steering pulling left or right. You just end up with a distracting asymmetric wobble.
Even if Supermodel is sending the ffb signals 100% correctly, I think there is going to be a difference between accurate emulation and what feels right to the user when using just a rumble pad.
Of course Supermodel should aim for accurate emulation and you guys are doing a fine job. It won't be long before you can drop a PC into a cab and nobody would be able to tell the difference.
I was wondering though, for us casuals who just use rumble pads and not wheels/cabs, can I change the source code so when ever a signal is sent left or right, it actually goes to both sides, regardless of input library? A "mono" rumble mode if you will.