xarchiver -e foo.tar.gz creates a directory according to the entered extraction path but doesn't extract content. -x works. i noticed that behaviour with .tar, .tar.gz and .tar.bz2 files. (btw, the extraction dialog is not set inactive while extracting: have a .tar.bz2 file and extract it using the thunar archive plugin and -e. the dialog stays open while trying to extract and you can click the buttons while extracting. nothing happens though..)
fixed