Comment 5 for bug 997105

> So there _is_ a handle, but it is invisible -- and therefore it is
> not possible to move. Wouldn't you call this a problem?

I don't see there a problem - In the node tool, you can easily extract (and retract) handles:

From the Inkscape keyboard and mouse reference:
Move node handle (mouse):
 - (…)
 - Ctrl+click retract the handle
  Retracted handle is zero length; use Shift+drag to drag it back out.

<http://inkscape.org/doc/keys048.html#d0e3383>