OVRInput not working in 'Desktop Mode'

We are implementing desktop mode / vrmode=none in our Unity game (KIN, which is platformer, so no controller presence in scene.)

The problem which I have never been able to solve is the user being able to use the OculusTouch or Gamepad input via the OVRInput class, as it doesn't get initialized (same as OVRManager)

Is this something that is by design, and do we need to have XInput/legacy input fallback for gamepads only for desktop mode?
It would be a shame people without a gamepad not being able to play the game in desktop mode with the Oculustouch as gamepad.

regards,

Sven