I image both my system and data drives everyday with Macrium Reflect Professional, so I like this solution better.

Glad to know it's possible in theory to download updates manually, save them and re-apply them later, but it seems like a daunting task. You'd have to identify those which are unnecessary because they were superseded by more comprehensive, later updates, you'd have to not miss a single one, apply them in the right order, deal with possible update bugs without MS support, do that with tens of different downloads (maybe hundreds ?)...

Just as you dispelled my paranoia, I found myself between a rock and a hard place again, with ZD Net fearmongering towards Office 2003 diehards as soon as a year ago, and expert users of modern versions spreading Ribbon Hate in a learned discussion that I failed to bookmark. Oh, well.

Thanks again for helping, and best regards to your furry mates.
________

Clairvaux