Implement Item#transformContent property, which controls wether Item#transform() directly applies transformations to contents, or simply stores them in Item#matrix.

src/item/Item.js

@@ -379,6 +379,16 @@ var Item = this.Item = Base.extend(Callback, /** @lends Item# */{
 	 */
 	_guide: false,
 
+	/**
+	 * Specifies whether the item directly transforms its contents when
+	 * transformations are applied to it, or wether it simply stores them in
+	 * {@link Item#matrix}.
+	 *
+	 * @type Boolean
+	 * @default false
+	 */
+	transformContent: false,
+
 	/**
 	 * Specifies whether an item is selected and will also return {@code true}
 	 * if the item is partially selected (groups with some selected or partially
@@ -1855,7 +1865,8 @@ var Item = this.Item = Base.extend(Callback, /** @lends Item# */{
 		// transformation if it was possible to apply it. Application is not
 		// possible on Raster, PointText, PlacedSymbol, since the matrix is
 		// storing the actual location / transformation state.
-		if ((this._applyMatrix || arguments[1]) && this.applyMatrix(this._matrix))
+		if ((this.transformContent || arguments[1])
+				&& this.applyMatrix(this._matrix))
 			// TODO: This needs a _changed notification, but the GEOMETRY
 			// actually doesn't change! What to do?
 			this._matrix.setIdentity();

src/path/Path.js

@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@
 // DOCS: Explain that path matrix is always applied with each transformation.
 var Path = this.Path = PathItem.extend(/** @lends Path# */{
 	_type: 'path',
-	// Paths always directly apply transformation matrices to the Segments.
-	_applyMatrix: true,
+	// Paths directly apply transformation matrices to the Segments by default.
+	transformContent: true,
+
 	/**
 	 * Creates a new Path item and places it at the top of the active layer.
 	 *