Comment 2 for bug 281554

Yep - confirm this is the same issue as

preferences dialog not drawing properly when opened for first time
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/359411

And still present in
Inkscape 0.47pre1 r21720, built Jul 3 2009
http://ubuntu.cafuego.net/dists/jaunty-cafuego/inkscape/