I'm aware of the excellent DevExpress LayoutManager & the half-attempts included in new releases of Delphi.
But I wonder whether an Open Source layout manager does exist, that can be used to replace the form editor.
I built a small version for my iPhone app in Obj-C that can do:
Form.Add(TEXT_EDIT,Options,LEFT)
The idea is to be able to build everything by code and ease internationalization, resolution independence and that stuff...