getValue() returns the request parameter value that is assigned to the formcomponent - if it was up to me this detail would be encapsulated (private) - but unfortunately it is not up to just me.
change it in 2.0! getting rid of as many of the getXXX (where XX is some value method) as we can would be great! And i agree the string representation isn't wat should be exposed as public.. only the converted input (before validation and before pushing it to the model should be enough) johan
