... and this code for versions earlier than 2007 (I have not tested further back than Word XP):

DEFINE CLASS WordEvents as Custom
IMPLEMENTS ApplicationEvents2 IN "Word.Application"

You cannot rely on this syntax working. The only time it works is when the machine that it is running on has only ever had one version of Word installed on it. The minute a new version is installed, this code will break.

Or is it just me that does not like to pointlessly duplicate code?

I do not think that you are so unique in that respect <s>.