Can preferences be configured so that various dialogs (e.g. align and distribute, fill & stroke) automatically open when inkscape starts? I don't see this option in preferences or as a command line, nor can I see that the macro functionality is yet a part of my inkscape version (0.46 april 2008) though I may just not see how to open this up.

Thanks

No, but similar request has already been reported in the bug tracker.