Hello!
Just I want to add some ideas to this interesting and relevant discussion (excuse my poor english ;)):
*Tango Icon Guidelines*:
The main important thing Tango brings to us is the guidelines. They are created having in mind the usablility and consiscency.
It's sure that there are nice icon set that you preffer because they are more detailed, colorfull or anything else, but tango looks great with clear, neutra, dark backgrouds themes (the default inkscape set does not do that).
The idea is not to discuss about what theme I like or not, because there are thousand of people, and every one have a opinion: the same thing could be loved by one person and hated by other one.
The thing is: what icon theme is more "correct" or "consistent".
*Others Apps*:
Another thing I think is very very important is the consistency between apps. Lot of apps (on Linux, Windows and Mac) uses Tango Icon guidelines (openoffice, firefox, scribus, gimp, ... and much more http://tango.freedesktop.org/Tango_Showroom )
Then, this icons are familiar for more and more people...
Art libre graphic set brings us the oportunity to make more easy the learning of the tools. Similar tools has similar icon. An this is great for the new users, who can easily supose what can they do with these tools. And this is a great point what we must do not forgot.
I know some howtos and tutorials and documentation are made with the original inkscape icon set, but this can not to be a obstacle to migrate them, because Inkscape evolves every day (new tools, new palettes, new controls...) and this new stuff are added althoug they involves changes on the user interface... and no one says "Hey dude! don't add this tool! some users may not understand this when they open the new X palette and see some new buttons!!!"
I'ts sure they are much more documentation about Gimp whit the older interface and tools and icons than Inkscape has now, but it was not a problem when they decide change the icon theme... now all the howtos new books and other documentation has the new icons and there is not problem about that.
*License* There are no problems about that, because all icons taken from LibreGraphic are GPL, and new icons I made could be licensed with GPL tool.
*Others SSOO* Yea, some SSOO like Windows or Mac has his own icon theme... well, some Windows and Mac Apps has his own icons too that does not looks like the main environment....
But the oficial Inkscape icon theme does not looks similar to ... nothing but itself! Then I don't see problem at all.
In fact, Gnome main Icon theme looks like the Tango one, then, every Ubuntu and Gnome user find your Inkscape with Tango Icons more integrated than the official theme.
*People working on this...*
I think there are no so much people making icons for Inkscape. And this is SO IMPORTANT.
I have read a lot of comments like - The X icon must be redone... - We must tu change the oficial icons and redone all with this and this and this look... - It will be great to redesign this and this and this...
Well, maybe youre on the way. So much work could be done... but Who will do that? How many designers are makins icons for the Inkscape UI?
We must be realistic. We are who we are, and we must think having in mind the resources we have.
The Tango icon theme could be improve, Sure! but there are no much time, no much designers....
We can use it, and then, we can modify it step by step; For example, the 3DBox, we can modify it. I will modify it and others it the people want it, but, please, I think there are no time and no enought resources to make a new full icon theme from the begining that every one like it. It's impossible....
*Icon Theme Selector*
A nice icon theme selector could be a great solution. The user can return to the original theme (or another one) easily if the users wants.
And then, could be a statistic system who brings us data about how many people uses one theme or other... maybe...
*The End*
Well, Sorry about this not short mail. I hope this discussion brings us a new opportunity to improve this great piece of software. The Tango Icon theme could be improved by others icon themes, this is sure, but I think it brings the users some important things like usability, consistency, and integration.
Salu2 de jEsuSdA 8)