Just need a verification if this is a bug. If so - I will report it for a possible fix in v1.4.1. 

With v 1.3.2 I could do a Path>Combine on nested groups of objects with no issue. I didn't have to do a "deep" ungroup prior to Path>Combine.

With v1.4, it will not work unless I deep ungroup or (the interesting part) do Path>Combine twice.

Thanks 

Edit: Lol - nevermind. I didn't convert the symbols to objects first. Sorry
 

Works here on macOS like in 1.3.2:

Polygon - open the layers dialog after you do a combine. Do you see a ton of empty "user" objects? 

Now do a save. Reload the file and open the XML editor. DO you still see those empty "user" objects?

Now - do a deep ungroup - this will eliminate the empty "user" objects.

If no - then I will report this as a WIndows version issue. If yes - I will report as all platforms issue. 

OMG - lol - i'm really getting senile. haha


 

This might come from using Symbols - not sure though.

Polygon - 

I am sure it is a symbols issue but let me explain why I know for a fact that I am going senile - lol.

For 2+ years my normal workflow for doing this was to deep unclone symbols then a deep ungroup - then do a combine. In other words - I discovered this issue 2+ years ago. 
For some reason this morning I didn't follow this workflow. I went straight to Path>Combine. The combine was buried inside the group and when I clicked the group - it appeared to not combine. 

I opened the layers dialog and found it inside the group. That is when I discovered all the empty "user" objects.  

I think I will report this. I don't think the developers intended all these empty "user" objects after a combine of the symbols. 
 

Reported:
https://gitlab.com/inkscape/inbox/-/issues/11210

Good job. Thanks. 🙏 

More info that might help fix the issue of Path>Combine with symbols:

Fracture and Flatten is working correctly with grouped symbols. Both will create new paths and eliminate the "empty" user objects.