When I drag linear gradient handles over a long distance or do a large rotation of a linear gradient, the linear gradient somehow gets converted to an elliptical gradient. Is this a bug or a feature? If it's a feature can I turn it off somewhere? I read tavmjong's guide and didn't see it mention.

what do you mean "large rotation"? do you zoom out a lot?

I think it might be a bug, can you give steps to reproduce?

By a large rotation I mean a linear gradient that 3 inches or longer that I rotate over 90 degrees. It's acting more like a feature. Also if I have selected and double click any when inside an object except exactly on the line (that represents the gradient), the gradient is changed to an ellipticals gradient. This is over kill screen shot below. Double click anywhere inside the rectangle with the selected (except the line) and bingo change the gradient. Other times I grab an end node to click and drag and instead a second handle pops out and I end up with an elliptical gradient again.

I think I found the insect that causes it , look at the Gradient toolbar, the first option you see it to pick where the new gradient should be linear or elliptic, you have it set to elliptic so every time you drag with the Gradient tool...