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But back to Inkscape -- my experience with Sodipodi [also in the < 1.0 version zone (both < 0.5 actually)] suggests that I have better things to do with my time.
I'll have to respectfully disagree there.
I have enjoyed some very productive discussions with the Inkscape devels and observed how they work together - it is a textbook example of FLOSS development.
I have a *lot* of respect for what they are doing and the rapid progress they have made to date. The latest 0.37 is a much smoother, more polished release than anything to date in OSS svg editing. With some minor issues, SVG import to/from Scribus <> Inkscape is getting better by the day.
See: http://www.inkscape.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?BigPicture
and : http://www.inkscape.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Roadmap
I have built RH9/Fedora RPMS for the Inkscape 0.37 release, which are on their download page. Mdk RPMS and debs are also packaged. SuSE rpms soon to come.
Peter