That Layers Dialog isn't needed anymore. It's easy to make clipped layers/mask with Object Dialog, and once you know more about using the objects dialog, you can definitely set up the objects to act more like a raster program. What I mean by that is you can make a transparency mask layer, and preview the transparency mask layer over the the main layer using 3 layers, and 1 sublayer. Converting between layers and groups offers a great amount of possibility. I do think that Layers dialog can be removed from Inkscape as it's essentially a worse version of the object dialogs, and having the objects dialog encourages one to explore Inkscape more.

When the objects' dialog's memory leak and other issues are fixed... Seriously, I understand why.

Just to be sure, make the formal request on LP, if there's not one already. https://launchpad.net/inkscape

Inkscape supports many different workflows (which is great). Its latest release added yet another one, anticipated and welcomed by many users who prefer an "object-based" workflow.

Why do these users now want to prevent other workflows by requesting to remove a feature which is clearly different in scope and usage? An object browser and a layer-based view on the structure of a document are not the same.

Would it be possible for those who prefer the object-based approach to simple ignore (aka no longer use [1]) the layers dialog, instead of requesting to remove it altogether (for everyone)?

[1] With Inkscape's built-in keyboard shortcut editor, it is for example easy to re-assign the old keyboard shortcut to open the layers dialog to open the objects dialog instead (in case muscle memory frequently causes to open the layers view instead of the favoured objects browser), or to assign a new keyboard shortcut to the Objects dialog (which currently doesn't have a default one yet).

Perfect example of how forums could benefit by more developer participation! (in my opinion)