Just tested simple idea on Ubuntu 16.04.4 LTS with MATE DE.
Out-the-box it has Xorg 1.18.4 which perfectly allow user to set for example <Ctrl+Shift> keyboard shortcut for keyboard layout switching.
But when I install HWE on 16.04 LTS I get newer Xorg 1.19.5.
Just tested simple idea on Ubuntu 16.04.4 LTS with MATE DE.
Out-the-box it has Xorg 1.18.4 which perfectly allow user to set for example <Ctrl+Shift> keyboard shortcut for keyboard layout switching.
But when I install HWE on 16.04 LTS I get newer Xorg 1.19.5.
Debian 8 (Xorg 1.16.4) and 9 (Xorg 1.19.2) have this problem too (see https:/ /bugs.debian. org/cgi- bin/bugreport. cgi?bug= 891915 ).
So versions 1.16.4, 1.19.2 and 1.19.5 should be patched to bring <Ctrl+Shift> keyboard shortcut functionality back.