I can not speak for the project, however here are my thoughts about that much requested tablet-interface redesign:
Even the pen and pressure sensitivity works for drawing.
As far as optimising Inkscape for a touchscreen interface sans-pen...
Have you ever tried to use a vector editor on a tablet using just your fingers?
I have on Android, and let me tell you, it sucks a whole lot trying to edit precision points and curves with the blunt tips of the meaty paw-tentacles we humans are saddled with. :) It's why we invented things like trackpads and styluses.
Inkscape presently works great with a stylus. I find the stylus+keyboard/laptop mode extra convenient, because you get all your hotkeys and also the touch/pen screen coolness as well.
For a bit of a laugh you could try out Photoshop on an Android tablet to see what a professional graphics application looks like when it's forced into the Tablet/touch screen paradigm. My findings? You will wish for death after about 10 minutes of attempting to replace GIMP or Photoshop in a professional graphics workflow with it.
THe current convention of endless tapping through menus with unlabled icons is hell, and it's what the industry wants to tell people is the future. They do it just to fit that futuristic image, to seem on top of change and to sell you stuff, but even Apple has added a stylus and keyboard cover to their latest iPad, so it's slowly going back in the other direction.
With tablets you will not get the benefit of a speedy hotkey-based workflow either.
This is a problem with tablets, and the (incorrect, though popular) idea that tablets are the way of the future and will replace laptops entirely at some point. For the general public, sure. For serious graphics work. No, I'd say: not ever. Not if you value your time anyway. :)
I think what you are seeing in the industry is a 2-in-1 admission that a tablet alone just isn't the right format for serious work. Inkscape is a serious vector illustration program, with focus on professional workflows. Looking trendy with an ultraportable tablet computer takes a bit of a backseat to usability when you have to get projects done.
I bit of buying advice, though: avoid the higher dpi screens. Inkscape is much slower on highdpi screens, and you will save both battery and money choosing a "regular" 1080p screen (if you want that high of resolution). Avoid 4k displays on newer 2-in-1s. I bought a Dell XPS 13 developer eddition, only to return it when Inkscape ran too slowly to be usable on it. I tried adjusting the DPI settings, but no amount of tweaking the interface made it fast enough. With this in mind, ymmv.
This does not mean we can't add nice things that are optimised for tablet use. Take Krita for example. They feature a hovering control-palate that appears when a tablet pen button is pressed. Quite convenient. Note however that they did not need to change the entire interface just to add that bit of functionality. Most artists would appreciate it if it weren't as well, I think. :)
I'd say enjoy your 2-in-1 to it's full capacity and use it in both modes at once. Then you sacrifice nothing. :)
My 2p.