re: "Many people agree that revision 5.1a, specifically, was the best version of Word that Microsoft has ever shipped."
Fortunately, my Ancient Powerbook still runs version 5.1. Eminently usable, and far less annoying than the Office 2008 version. Among other travesties, the current version will often refuse to select a single word, obstinately selecting another word, next to the word you want to select (and delete) and thus deprecating one's deletion experience to repeated tapping of the Delete key.
As a side benefit, the Powerbook won't load almost all web sites, thus removing one obvious procrastination temptation.
Fortunately, my Ancient Powerbook still runs version 5.1. Eminently usable, and far less annoying than the Office 2008 version. Among other travesties, the current version will often refuse to select a single word, obstinately selecting another word, next to the word you want to select (and delete) and thus deprecating one's deletion experience to repeated tapping of the Delete key.
As a side benefit, the Powerbook won't load almost all web sites, thus removing one obvious procrastination temptation.