Like many conventions of society (such as mutual gift-giving) we keep doing things in a certain way simply out of habit, long after the original need (a barter-based economy) has vanished. [...]I've witnessed this phenomenon, especially in business school classes: people reflexively use Word for even the simplest of plain-text note-taking. Type up a .doc (or better yet, .docx) and attach it to your e-mail. They practically teach this in school.
Why do we do this? Because everyone uses Word, so we have to. And why does everyone use Word? Because everyone uses Word. It starts to make sense if you just hit your head on the wall enough times.
That said, my real problem with Microsoft Word—with Office, in fact—is that it is the absolute worst piece of software that I am forced to use on the Mac. It is truly a painful experience. It is not unreasonable, I think, to believe that your document window or controls should not simply disappear before your eyes as you are working; or to want a shred of consistency in text manipulation between the program and the OS (or within the program itself). Don't blame the Mac—I can't think of another current application as broken as the Office apps.
Worst of all, for all this sacrifice, Mac Office doesn't even guarantee 100% compatibility with Windows Office. I've spent hours cleaning up its mistakes. Even so, it's better than the alternative; I work with Office users, and can't deal with the possibility of further deterioration from repeated conversions.
Edit: And it goes on and on...
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