"I would argue the fact that you refer to CAD functionality as bloat be unfair"

Why? I am saying it is very important to keep focussed on what XaraX is and one thing it is not is a CAD program. It's a vector illustration program.

"I do get asked to deal with DXF files which I must use other apps to bring in. Maybe this falls into better import/export, but still, I would like to import and export DXF files."

Yeah I'd say this was import/export which is, in my opinion, a completely reasonable request.

"And multiple pages and spell checking would be welcome additions and not bloat."

To be fair, I didn't suggest that this would be bloat.

My point is simply that additional functionality should be within the reasonable realms of XaraX's purpose - vector illustration.

I use XaraX1 for illustration/logo/web design, Word for letters, Ovation Pro for DTP, Sibelius3 for composition, PhotoshopCS for photo manipulation... each application is excellent at what it does, which I think is the point myself and a few others are trying to make.