There's a package called accdisplay, (see http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php...247#post426247 ) which shows the accelerometer data pretty directly (it might still be in extras-devel - see this big warning: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=343619 )

But from what you say, it does seem like you have a problem as you say. Both the apps you've mentioned are known to work.