I have successfully used a StarTech PCIe parallel port adapter card to interface with a stepper motor controller board, and I'm able to run CNC machining operations from LinuxCNC. It works fine in EPP mode (communicating bi-directionally).

The parallel port is actually very cool. You can take a high-end Linux machine and add the parallel port as a low latency GPIO interface with 25 pins. It can be used to control LEDs, motors, etc, and can also be used to receive sensor data, etc.

What is 'RAW' mode? I think you are referring to a legacy TCP/IP network printing protocol also known as "Port 9100." I'm not sure that's relevant to parallel ports?