How future proof is $._data in jQuery?

I need some info from people who are a lot smarter than I am.

I am creating a plugin which requires me to force an event to the top of the list so it fires first. I am using a slightly modified version of http://ift.tt/1eKJJt2

The only way it can access this info on an element is by using:

$._data($(this)[0]).events  

I want to know how "future proof" this is as I know this changed already since 1.7. Are there any plans to officially support a similar thing, is using $._data a big no no?