CorelDraw has this wonderful modify+right click to duplicate with changes.
This is the fastest and best way to do this, so far, in any app.
However you could outdo this by providing this same feature via the Alt+Drag of a handle of a selected object.
So if I make a square, and now want to encase that in a rectangle that's larger but starts with the same upper left origin, I simply [Alt+Drag] the bottom right handle and I've made it once I drop it, and then tap the key combo to send it back one in the hierarchy.
Where this is probably most useful is in mirroring objects. Grab the handle opposite your desired reflection point, [Alt+Drag] it over the other side of the reflection point and you've made a mirrored object with the same properties in no time at all.
Sound fun? Doable? Not conflict with anything else?