Is it just me, or has something changed with Excel 2003?

If I have a cell with wrap text, shouldn't the row size automatically
increase if the text exceeds the cell size?

For some reason, my text just gets squished.  I know I can go to
Format-Cells-Autofit, but if I do that, the row could SHRINK if I have too
little text in the cell.

Here's what I want:  I want to increase the height of the cell to a decent
size (e.g. 30).  IF the text exceeds the cell, then I want it to expand.  But
if it doesn't, I want the cell to remain at 30 - not decrease.

Is there a way to do this?  Thank you.