Hi,
I didn't catch up when you were discussing details of i18n implementation for our beloved www.inkscape.org.
All I want is to point out that web-sites can be translated via gettext just like applications. Example is http://audacity.sf.net, where you just download a .pot file (from http://audacity.sourceforge.net/community/translation), translate it in KBabel, poEdit, GTranslator or whatever else and commit it to CVS or send to one of developers.
When anything at ("on" is the right preposition?) the site updates, .pot files updates as well (currently manually, but this could be done automatically, I think). Translators then only need to merge changes tro translations and send them back to developer or commit themselves. This is quite handy.
I don't know details of implementation, but I think that Matt Brubeck, who is in charge for that site, could help you. His e-mail address is mbrubeck =at= cs.hmc.edu
Alexandre