With the recent debate (again) about Tango icons for Inkscape, it became quite clear that users need a simple way to change icon themes from the preferences.
It's quite easy to change themes right now by adding the icons.svg file to the icons folder, but novice users (and windows basic users mostly) have problems to find the configuration folder, so it's not that simple for them.
I know the Preferences UI is already cluttered, but since there is no consensus about what icon set should be the default for inkscape this new option would allow to change the set to people who doesn't agree with the final decision.
Personally, I believe that the main benefit of that preference would make people know that it is possible to change the icon theme. Most of the users stick to the default set not because they like it, but they don't even know that it's possible to have other set.
Talking with Jesusda about this subject, he mentioned an idea that can be useful too: Adding to the preferences an optional feature for gathering configuration information and send it to inkscape.org, so general preferences (icon set of choice, for instance) can be studied statistically and with that information, decide default settings, remove preferences that are commonly ignored, etc.
My opinions on this:
1. A big program like Inkscape will necessarily have a lot of options. If the Preferences pages look cluttered, they should be fixed.
2. Sending statistical information on preference settings looks like an overkill, and some might consider it an invasion of privacy. A more cost effective measure would be to gather opinions on Inkscape-related forums, or have some organized usability testing.
3. This setting would be redundant on Linux, where the icon theme is something system-wide and should not be set from an application. On Windows it's not
4. Adding this feature would prevent simplifying that use an icon; currently standard GTK functions like gtk_image_
5. Means to change the default icons wouldn't be necessary if we had good default icons. At this point it is apparent that: a) old icons are somewhat ugly, but users are accustomed to them and they are readable; b) Tango icons are nicer looking, but less readable. If Tango icons could be made more readable, the need to have two icon sets would disappear.
6. Shipping 2 distinct icon sets makes it hard to add new UI features. When you need an icon, you have to draw two of them. We should have only one icon set that looks good and is readable.
I would close this as "Won't Fix", but I'll let others express their opinions.