From this InfoWorld article...

In a related issue raised during the session, Microsoft's J.R. Arredondo, senior product manager for Microsoft Office, said the company sees its Popfly technology, for quick creation of applications such as mashups and widgets, as a model for the future. The Office business application strategy at its core is about bringing simplicity and usability to the masses, Arredondo said.

That last line is exactly what I like to hear!  Of course, it would be nice to see some meat around statements like that, but it is good to know that the "powers that be" are thinking the way I am, or at least appear to be.  Now the questions is, how long will it take to go from these broad brush statements to something that customers can actually see and use.  Under 24 months would be fantastic, but I am not counting on it. ;-(