While tools to dynamically generate SVG are needed sometimes the big future of SVG is artist-created images, so we generally in need of ways to manipulate , animate and add-to existing existing SVG images. SVG markup is already a better: clearer, faster, more embeddable way to create SVG images. Our tools should focus on adding value to the markup.
I use a lot of SVG these days and, sadly, SVG has to come with caveats. It currently performs terribly on iOS devices (especially large, detailed images) and there is no way to create progressively detailed svgs or mark areas for baking. Webkit did have an SVG scrolling bug where svgs were constantly repainted but, thankfully, that is fixed now.
Another gripe is SVG drawing tools. I am using a rather strange hodge-podge of a workflow (especially as I am a Mac user). Microsoft Expression Design → export as XAML → translate XAML to SVG.
It's actually quite effective / sensible for a few reasons 1) Expression Design is now a free download 2) XAML and SVG are very similar so the translation is reasonable straight-forward 3) Expression Design gives accurate pixel previews (and I have a second SVG testing tool that can flick between SVG and PNG to see where there are problems).
My tools are written in Go and may be of use / interest to other people. Let me know if you'd like to try them (caveat: they are one-user-one-developer-tools — me — so there is a layer of polish missing that I am happy to live with but you may not) and I'll work out how to upload them to GitHub.