I added variables to /etc/sysconfig/mouse to start gpm repeater mode. There is arguments for imwheel support too. I correct startup scripts for gpm and X-window. I use gpm in repeater mode for X-window and imwheel with patch for gpm (it's on my site too). It's applicable to gpm-1.18.
some people do not like gpm to be in repeater mode, so we won't make this standard. Please continue to supply it as a patch for those who feel it is better. What linux really needs is a standard /dev/mouse that that would be the same for everything, but we don't have that right now.