the tools: node tool doesn't include any labels in the Commands bar would help if some of the items were labelled. same goes for the Zoom tool, too many similar icons are hard to disambiguate and text would help.
May be a good idea. Can you make a specific proposal?
Think Priority text, like on a standard toolbar.
I suppose at least Add Remove(Delete/Merge/???) should be labelled.
A single label to help group the three corner/node types might be enough rather than needing to label everything, at least for now.
Well, this is one point, where I disagree. I do think that grouping the items in the toolbar with separators would help to easily find the right tool, but labels are annoying because they waste so much screen estate when assigned to each button and are basically useless when you just use them as separators. Furthermore I personally think that the tool tip is what is supposed to tell you what a tool does. A graphic program like Inkscape is to some degree for professionals... you have to know the difference between a cusp and a smooth node. As soon as you do, you easily understand the images. Taking a look at them to distinguish them from one another doesn't take longer than reading a label but takes less time. Users who are still learning to use vector graphics are not familiar with many of the concepts, but labels -- i believe -- will not help explaining. Tool tips do a better job because they have more room. Anyways, if you do decide on labels, I ask you to make it dependent on the gnome setting for menus and toolbars -- actually I think that'd be the best solution.
Take care!
David