Hi Julian,

Be sure to use the 2007 feedback tool from the link below to send your feedback and suggestions directly to the MS Office 2007
product team.

You may also want to visit the User Interface Team blog for Office 2007 at http://blogs.msdn.com/jensenh for some background on the
decisions they've reached on the new UI (you can also add comments to the team through their blog).

For now, the 'compromise' is that there is no legacy/classic interface in the core ribboned apps (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), but the
existing (2000, 2002, 2003) keyboard shortcuts should work for you in the Word 2007.

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Office 2007 has great potential but is, is think, way too far ahead of 95%+
of users. I believe a  much better way is needed to bridge the planned
interface to the one that past users know. I suggest, as much, as this can be
done, an almost always there one-link connection to an Office XP-2003 menu
facsimile.
Ciao,
Julian >>

To expand a bit, I recall a decade or so ago how well Microsoft built helpful
migration paths for new users of WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3. When you
installed what are now "legacy" Microsoft products, you were offered options
that gave immediate help in making the switch from older applications. The
Word 1997 help function even had an optional selection entitled "WordPerfect
Help".

I believe the Office 2007 UI paradigm entails behavioural change similar in
extent and magnitude to those facing earlier users of Office applications. I
threfore see headaches for corporate IT departments unless Microsoft can find
easier ways for users. Despite my concerns (and personal frustrations at
times), I think the new UI is a good one and worth persevering with.

Ciao,

Julian