Being able to switch between the scales would be the major thing, right after making the factors more consistent. For steps, we would essentially be choosing x in 2^(1/x), with a default of 3 or 4. Linear scaling would indeed become impractical at high zoom, but we can probably decide for ourselves ...

The Break Apart command normally separates all discrete path loops.

Is there currently a way to pick specific paths to break off while keeping the others combined?

If not, would it be better to make a separate command, or to integrate this into the existing command?

Sorry to rez a topic: Rather than specifying the actual factor, choosing the number of steps between stops (doubling or halving in size, similar to the term's use in photography) could be helpful. Some users might need zooming to reliably fall on round percentages—Inkscape currently seems to drift b...