This time UI mockups come from Pablo Lizardo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pablolizardo/4845828488/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/pablolizardo/4845888941/in/photostream/
Apart from it being a clear Photoshop rip-off, it's not very much different from our current interface. Except that Fill&Stroke is all dumped into a single pane, losing many options along the way.
Curiously, Photoshop had acquired a horizontal top panel with tool options much later than other software, and I think even later than Inkscape had it. And now we are urged to imitate Photoshop even in that element. Familiarity so utterly trumps usability that it's not even funny.
Well, it seems you're looking more at the top panels while some of us are more focused on other parts. :) I didn't pay attention to the top panel until you mentioned it. Every mock-up will likely have its good parts and bad parts.
Here's what I do like in these mock-ups:
1. The layer panel
I like the arrangement, it makes efficient use of space but gives you information about a layer at just a glance. It just needs a slider to pop up besides the numerical value when clicked to adjust opacity more easily. I think the view button could be moved to the far left though to avoid accidentally clicking on the lock button.
2. Parts of the fill and stroke panel
Of course, options will have to be restored, but there are elements I do think are interesting:
a. The stroke/fill button
I suppose when you click on the hollow square, the hollow square is brought to the forefont and you're basically editing your stroke color now, and vice-versa? I think this kind of preview is kind of neat. Of course, the options he removed will have to be brought back in.
b. I like the more compact view for caps and markers, though some options are missing now. I wouldn't mind seeing something like this at the bottom:
http://j.imagehost.org/view/0548/stroke
For those who absolutely Need the names, the name could always pop up when you hover over it.
I'm not so sure about the other proposed changes, but I did find these to be nice ideas. Right now I avoid using the fill and stroke panel whenever I can because it's a pain to navigate (too many tabs), something more compact may be nicer.