Applications in background and top layers consume + hog focus when they should not

[Kreevoz]

When setting input: follow_mouse = 0 or 2
OR when setting follow_mouse = 1 together with mouse_refocus = 0 ,

a mouse-over causes the focus for both mouse and keyboard inputs to shift to whatever application is under the cursor, if those applications sit in other layers such as background or top. *
*Exceptions apply:

• The bug is not triggered by any other windows that sit in the default layer.
• The bug is not triggered by waybar even though it sits in the top layer.
• The bug is also not triggered while the cursor is hovering above the resizing area around the window borders (if that is enabled). It needs direct 'line of sight' of another layer's application.

Crucially, the focus does not return to the active window - no amount of angry keyboard bashing or clicking into the window will bring it back since it remains hooked to the other application.

To return focus to the window, focus has to be cycled with a keybind, with a click onto a hyprbar (if that plugin is active), or by clicking into another window, and then back into the one that had its focus stolen.
Afterwards expected behavior adheres once again to the follow_mouse setting until the bug is triggered again.

The loss of focus affects both tiling, as well as floating windows.

Reproduction
TOP LAYER:
exec-once = xfce4-panel

The panel works fine.
Focus shifts to the panel on mouse over with no other interaction, and does not return to the active window.

BACKGROUND LAYER:
exec-once = pcmanfm-qt --desktop &

Desktop with icons works fine.
Focus instantly shifts to it with no interaction and does not return to the active window.

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Other, related discussions and issues sound like they might be the result of the same underlying bug, but the descriptions differ and often sound application-specific while they might not be.
Such as: #9987 (open, low priority, reported as wayland specific)
and: #9326 (closed as not planned, but could not find any explanation why)
and: #10719 (seems to be related to 9326; sounds application specific but may in fact be this bug here)

The only workaround is to use follow_mouse = 1.
If there is another workaround, or if there is a totally obvious reason that I wasn't able to find in my searches, I'd apperciate a pointer.

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Tested with: Hyprland 0.50.1 built from branch at commit 4e242d0 (latest as of writing this)

[vaxerski]

remind me to test this when I am back from holiday (in a week)

[1a2s3d4f1]

I am not sure this workaround working with top layers. Set follow_mouse=3 can inhibit keyboard focus shifting to application of background layers persistently. The keyboard focus can not shift to background layers. So that tiling and floating windows will be able to get keyboard focus. The background layer will not be able to get keyboard focus but receiving mouse operation.

[Kn4ughty]

I have a similar issue which I think is related. If I have a background layer focused and then I create a new window, the background layer stays focused until the mouse is moved or I cycle workspaces.
This happens with follow_mouse=1, and with mouse_refocus=1|0.
With mouse_refocus=0 it is a bit improved since switching to a new workspace doesn't have the background auto focused, so new windows get focus. However, if the background layer does get focus, the same problem occurs.