>As you have observed, every open spreadsheet or Word document creates a new item on the taskbar. No one here really likes that...
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>In Excel 2000, there is a check box ('Windows in Taskbar') in Options that can be unchecked, that solves this problem. However, I cannot find a similar option in Word...
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I love that feature. It makes it so much easier to switch between docs and sheets. I may have several open at one time and need to switch - AltTab and I'm there.

However, in typical gov fashion, they have turned that option off in Excel and want to do so in Word. Lowest common denominator theory of support. This is why I have my laptop.