I have been using Excel for a specific purpose since about 1990 and every
version since. It is a spreadsheet with many embedded formulas which,
fortunately, have worked in all versions of Excel.
I am absolutely puzzled by the default behavior of Excel 2007 with regard to
text entry.
When entering data into a cell the typing appears in the formula bar and the
cursor appears in the cell but no text. There is no cursor in the formula
bar while typing. I have to  deliberately place the cursor in the formula
bar  with the mouse to correct a typing error. If entering a text item that
has previously appeared in the same column the cell goes black to indicate
the auto-fill option.
I have no idea why this should be the default behavior, but I also have no
idea why anyone would think that throwing out 17 years of Excel usage
methods in favor of The Ribbon of Abomination would be a good idea.
How do you set Excel so that what you type shows up in the cell as well as
the formula bar and so that auto-fill items show up in the cell after the
first few letters have been typed? How do you get Excel 2007 to behave like
Excel 2003 for entering data?