I have exactly the same Problem with the Inkscape 0.47.0-2+b1 Debian package (squeeze).
/home/<username>/.config/inkscape/templates/default.svg is not used.
BUT: if I remove (i.e. rename) default.svg and default.de.svg in the system directory /usr/share/inkscape/templates/ my local default IS used. So you could call this a workaround. ;-)
By the by: is the default.<lang>.svg Debian-specific?
I have exactly the same Problem with the Inkscape 0.47.0-2+b1 Debian package (squeeze). username> /.config/ inkscape/ templates/ default. svg is not used.
/home/<
BUT: if I remove (i.e. rename) default.svg and default.de.svg in the system directory /usr/share/ inkscape/ templates/ my local default IS used. So you could call this a workaround. ;-)
By the by: is the default.<lang>.svg Debian-specific?
Cheers
Andreas