Update: Tried changing my file to a .dot and a .dotm. Both of these have "New" as the darkened bold option when I right click and open a new instance as expected. Checked shell registry keys for all three file types and they're all configued to open new....so I'm not sure why .dot and .dotm are working correctly and the .dotx is not.

At any rate, the Macro Enabled Template will work for the moment. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

Steps to check file assosciations and registry key entries:
http://icrontic.com/discussion/85241

Registry keys:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Word. Template.8\shell
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Word. Template.12\shell
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Word. TemplateMacroEnabled.12\shell