Synchronized clone

While discussing the possibility to attach the same node to multiple books in the context of the Outline project, we went to think about this feature that would fit best here.
http://drupal.org/node/333200

The request is to add a new feature to dupplicate content elements, let call it "synchronized clone".
Compared to the current cloning feature of this module, the content could be made identical for selected part of the content, whithout allowing the editor to change it.

From a given content element, we can create "synchronized clones" for which one can selectively decide what must stay identical to the original content element, and what can be altered in the clone. Changing the "master node" synced content would be reflected in the synchronized clones.

For example,
- allowing outline setting to provide what was needed for our original request to the Outline project.
- allowing menu setting to facilitate the spreading of the same element among different menu items.

This would have the following benefits:
- allowing our wish to access the same content from different places in a book hierarchy - something in between the rigid Book structuring and the flexible taxonomy access
- adding an object orientation to Drupal by allowing node inheritance
- would not need much changes in the database structure - basically a reference to a master node at the node level and an indicator for each part of the node for allowing its local alteration or imposing its synchronization with the master node information

It seems that something approaching was already done for synchronizing the title of the cloned node.