hi: standards ad force feedback ?

I was wondering how it comes that for the same device hi ...
- doesn't output the same device name
- doesn't output the same parameter indexes
- doesn't output the same value (typically shifted by 1 or 2 bits on
windows)
.... on windows and mac.

I guess it is due to the driver and/or the system...
it is possible to know more about that?
Is there any standard used by manufacturers?

Another cool feature would be the info message outputting the infos from
the outlets, so that it is possible to ask the interface and know how
many parameters
are available... (to know the range of each would be perfect!!)

...or is it possible to get the messages printed in the max window back in
a patch message? like error messages?

Also, could it be possible that hi behave bidirectionally in the future?
I'm saying this because more and more joysticks offers force feedback
and it would be very nice to be able to control it.