Question: I'm trying to copy an object out of an SVG file using inkscape, however when I paste it back in to a new inkscape file it's no longer the svg version, but a rasterized version.  

I'm not sure if it's because inkscape runs in XQuartz and the clipboard is behaving odly.

Answer: 
[Here](http://mandarapte.com/apple/copy-pasting-vector-objects-svg-file-vector-svg-file-inkscape-converts-bitmap-working-pasteboards-x11/) someone had the same problem.
They solved it by turning off X11's Pasteboard Syncing:

> 
> Disabling ‘Sync PasteBoard’ Functionality within X11 (Which is
>  Included in XQuartz App for OSX Mountain Lion) solves the problem of
>  converting vector object to Bitmap after pasting the same object in
>  another SVG file.
> 
> 
> Do This (Go to): X11 > Click on ‘Preferences’ tab > Choose
>  ‘Pasteboard’ tab > Uncheck ‘Enable Syncing’
> 
> 
>
This is not really a solution but a workaround I learned from [this page](https://dawes.wordpress.com/2015/10/19/inkscape-clipboard-fix-on-mac/) and it requires you to flex those muscle memory of `Command``C` and then `Command``V`.
The workaround is to use `Control``D` to duplicate instead of copy and pasting. Off course this does not work if you want to copy from one file to another or in/out of Inkscape. 

(It is a shame that Inkscape developers are ignoring all mac users. Looking forwards to see a real native implementation away from crappy X11!)