Yep, I managed to find a copy of 2000 and you are correct! However my good friend Shyam has written a free addin to fix this.
http://skp.mvps.org/setview.htm

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Microsoft PowerPoint MVP 2007-2023
Free Advanced PowerPoint Tips and Tutorials

That looks excellent, John! I'll certainly give that a try when I have the rest of my new installation done, and see if I can iron out any of the other wrinkles I was finding with Office 2000. Fortunately it is much easier installing 2000 over '97 than it is switching in the opposite direction.

Many thanks,

Steve.

P.S. Reading the details again I'm not absolutely certain whether the add-in actually saves the window layout, or just the 'View' (i.e. Slide, Slide Sorter, Outline, etc). I will find out when I try it.