Can Word Truly Replace MS Publisher?

[Milqn Vuk]

Since Microsoft retired Publisher and pushed Word as an alternative, I’ve been wondering:



Baseline Grid Alignment via Macro?
Text columns auto-align baselines until tables or images are inserted. Could a macro enforce proper baseline grid alignment in cases when tables or images are inserted?

Why Can’t Frames Link Text?
Text boxes can link, but frames can not. Frames are in the text layer and work better with some text features. Are there any clever workarounds (fields, cross-references, or VBA) to mimic or do frame linking?

If Word could do these, it’d be much closer to being a true Publisher replacement. What do you all think?