So there must be many tales of how Apple / Mac folk came to use ClarisWorks, then AppleWorks - and to rely on them. I hugely sympathize with Harold's cri de coeur -
"Change for the sake of change just to put some geeks name on the change doesn't make sense."
This change for the sake of change panders to egotism and creates wastefulness for those who use and rely on the products.
I also understand that this forum is not for venting or complaining, but rather to try to solve problems. I have been fascinated to read this thread, and to understand that others have been working to find the best ways forward.
For me, I have to switch to Excel, and am considering abandoning Mac for accounting purposes because Excel works better on, say, a Dell. What my accountant can do with Excel 2008 on his computer is more than I seem to be able to do with it on either my old Mac or MacBook Pro bought last year. I just can't get it to accept a number with a minus in front of it - AW spreadsheet was phenonmenal - I could add and subtract in a column so easily - no formulas, no complex listing of column letters and row numbers. But my accountant does seem to be able to do this with his Excel. I wish there was a way world wide forum members could put their threads together and present them directly to Apple - to be heard, and to be listened to.
Thank you all for your suggestions, apologies for venting, sorry to double
post earlier - I made a mistake being a novice at posting.