When you create your mapping files, do you map your properties to fields or properties :
I map to properties. If I find it necessary, I map the SETTER to a field. (usually via something like "access=field.camelcase").
This lets me have nice looking Queries, e.g. "from People Where FirstName = 'John'" instead of something like "from People Where firstName/_firstName" and also avoid setter logic when hydrating my entities.