Microsoft's Service Pack 3 to Office 2003 blocks a lengthy list of word-processing file formats, including Word 6.0 and Word 97 for Windows, and Word 2004 for Macintosh. It also blocks older versions of Excel, PowerPoint, Lotus Notes, Corel Quattro spreadsheet, and Corel Draw graphics package.

Microsoft does offer a "work around" involving several Registry modifications to enable access to the blocked formats, but the work-around was branded by one critic on tech Web site Slashdot as "mind-bogglingly complex."

Their reason for blocking these formats is that they are "protecting you" from possible damage emanating from these files, and to make Office 2003 more compatible with Vista. Do you think it possible that this might really have something to do with the "bottom line," and forcing upgrades to later versions of MS Office?