Attached is a 2nd file, Outset_Test_2, which has two objects which look exactly the same: the pink object was created with several path statements and has not yet been transformed into a single closed path via Ctrl-K, the green object is a single closed path created by one path statement. 
- Susan


Can you attach the SVG file that originally exposed the unexpected
behavior of the 'Path > Outset' command?
 
~suv