Michael,
I was working the label can model and wanted to inset command the face on the can. The inset command will complete on "inwards" but produce nothing with "outwards". I can offset the surface and shell it to get the job done though. Are you interested in seeing these types of models yet? I know you said it's new and will be refined, So no need to be bombed with insets that fail, but if you want the model "pre-inset", I'll post it.

All sharp corners.