Wow, a lot of info there. Thank you!

It looks like the bottom line (and this is what I see happening)

1. If you start a NEW doc (NewDoc. docx) based on normal.dotm that doc will get all the styles in Normal.dotm and retain them for life.

BUT BUT BUT... if you after that add any style to normal.dotm and then reopen NewDox.docx Even though it was created based normal.dotm the style you added after the creation will not show up in newdoc.docx.

However if you added macros to the normal.dotm after you created NewDoc.docx, thos macros WILL BE AVAILABLE the next time you open NewDOc.docx

Do I get an A++ grade?

While doesn't make too much sense to me we will live with it.

Thank you