No worries, we'll figure it out, one way or another

Could you show us an illustration? Or explain how you have been doing this that's been unsatisfactory?
Now what I think I understand, I don't think Inkscape can do. But I'm not sure yet, that I understand.
What you suggest only make the node(1) move in relation to the other nodes(2) and not to the curve to which it were snapped to.
Do you want to drag the node along a curved path?
If I move the bezier handles to reshape the path(2), this does not effect the 'snapped' node(1).
Well, no. If they are 2 separate paths, then nothing you do to one path will affect the other path. Snapping doesn't edit paths, it just moves them. It's used to align objects precisely. I thinking snapping may be a slightly different feature in other graphic programs, because often new Inkscape users expect snapping to permanently connect things together.
But I think an illustration will be helpful, if you can.