observable.raw()  accessor,  and   passing context to afterRender

The primary use-case for the raw access function is to be able to control when binding are fired.  With observable.raw(value) call values on an object can be set and then bindings triggered later.  We can also read values without subscribing.

For the afterRender context change,  I found several times where I needed access to the item context not just the item data when inside an afterRender.  For example in order to get back to some properties on my view model.