Inkscape 0.48.3.1 r9886, Debian Wheezy x86_64. Editing the gradient of the parent of clones produces lots of gradient copies. Steps to reproduce:
1) Create a rectangle.
2) Make a clone of it.
3) Press F2 and select the parent rectangle.
4) Set its filling to linear gradient.
5) Press Edit... to edit the gradient.
6) Add a couple of stop points.
7) Drag these points and watch a bunch of gradients created per every move. If you drag the offset slider everything is ok but not when you directly move the stop points.
It seems Inkscape creates a copy of the gradient when you edit one already used on another object to avoid unwanted changes on that object. Though here it enters a kind of loop creating more and more copies. If you delete the child rectangle and try to move the stop points exactly one gradient copy is created as it should be.
Reproduced with Inkscape 0.48.3.1 and Inkscape 0.48+devel r11495 if the deprecated gradient editor dialog is open while dragging gradient stops assigned to an object which has clones.
Not reproduced with Inkscape 0.48.3.1 and Inkscape 0.48+devel r11495 if using on-canvas editing of gradients to insert and position the stops on-canvas (without opening the deprecated gradient editor dialog).
Note: in current trunk, all options of the gradient editor dialog have been added to the controls bar of the gradient tool (thus making the floating gradient editor dialog obsolete) - see bug #950677.
Related effect with pattern fills of objects which have clones:
Bug #693927 “pattern-spam on pattern-edit if clone of the pattern-filled object exists”
<https:/