But the average person didnt know this. These realtors dont know this.
They just purchase a computer, want to be sure to get Office and expect
things to work.

Either way, I have been working on two office's and they are now set up
on Ubuntu with OO.

Im not saying that different formats from any app dont cause trouble
but, combine a new format with a new interface and a new OS and you have
a person, have a business who is ripe for making a change to something
that just works.