I was thinking the same as Jamie above - I'd like to see this function built-in with a slider or button to reduce the number of points in increments.

I still use Corel Draw a lot and they have a function called "Reduce Nodes" that I use frequently to smooth curves.

For example, I'll frequently trace over a complex curve on a backplate by using the Bezier tool and clicking off several points, then Reduce Nodes to get a smooth result. For me it's faster than trying to free-hand draw a smooth curve from the start.

Ed