Today at the closing of the 2005 MVP Summit (
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2005/sep05/09-29MVPSummit.mspx )
it was announced publicly that the next release of Publisher due next year in
Office "12", will have "save as" PDF functionality.
http://alexdyb.blogspot.com/2005/10/office-12-will-support-pdf.html
http://mindsharpblogs.com/todd/archive/2005/10/01/708.aspx

I have seen a lot of Pub "12" and played with some early bits (beta 1 is
expected late 2005) and can tell you that it is the most exciting release
I've seen during my years of being a Publisher MVP.

I can't speak in terms of specifics unless an item is publicly announced by
Microsoft first, but I can say that "most" of the items that have been on
Microsoft's official Publisher MVP "Customer Pain/Wish List" have found a
home in Publisher "12".

I am very excited about the coming release of Publisher "12" and the new
Office Suite as a whole. I also have seen a lot of the upcoming Windows
Vista. If you have seen some pictures or read some stuff about it already I
can assure you that you haven't seen anything yet. Windows Vista will blow
you away.

Obviously I am very enthusiastic about all that awaits us in the coming
year. I look forward to everyone sharing my enthusiasm in the coming months.