Here is a bit of information on masters and layouts in 2007. This might help
you get a better idea of what's happening.
http://www.echosvoice.com/2007/layouts.htm
http://www.echosvoice.com/2007/editinglayouts.htm
I know there are issues with title layouts 2007 not becoming title masters
in 2003, but I've not heard of the masters being replaced with the blank
layout. For your "blank layout" in 2007, did you use the existing blank
layout, or did you delete placeholders from one of the existing layouts to
create a blank layout?

Signature
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://tinyurl.com/36grcd
PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/32a7nx
> have they merged the slide layouts and content layouts from the previous
> versions into one layout option?
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> version (2003) the blank layout is replacing the title and text/content
> layout? make sense?