Hello,
The release is coming and I don't think the LPE tool is ready. I just wanted to notice some strange things that need to be discussed :

1.  "Pattern along Path" is not a good name, it doesn't deal with "patterns" (on a svg point of view).

2.  The "copy" problem  see bug #179840 for description

3.  flip, rotate or scale a LPE object : see bug #179842 for description
And please watch this youtube video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0rx__lIlkg
The Red path has a "bend path" lpe applied
The green one is the same converted into path, it acts as a reference for us. This is the result we naturally expect for the transformation of the red path.

4. Once Johan coded a "width control line" for "Bend Path", I found it very useful but it has now disappeared.

Hoping It will be useful.
Steren