.docx? More like .wtf!

Recently, I received a file attachment in an email from a trustworthy soul. I always implement the virus scanning capabilities of my email carrier, and have never had problems accessing any of the common file types of attachments intended to be viewed by yours truly. Until now, as someone has sent me a Microsoft .docx file.
I should mention that the file was sent to me by a quite honorable man whose proficiency in computing is well above average, certainly well above that of a layman. He sent me a document to be reviewed this morning, and wanted a response by this afternoon.
I should ALSO mention that I am not using Vista. I am not even using the latest version of Word. Instead, I have opted for the sleeker, streamlined OpenOffice suite, which heretofore, has handled all of my desktop publishing needs with aplomb, and nary a hazardous crash or lost file. Well, my first instinct was to try to open the .docx document with OpenOffice, a truly lost cause. Next I tried opening the file in an os x version of Word [the email was sent to my web email account, so this was no major setback], no luck. In fact, I initially suspected the file was meant for os x, given the 'x' at the end of this foreign-to-me file type. So, I briefly abandoned hope and investigated the file type. It turns out the file type was implemented by Microsoft with the 2007 version of Word, and is a Microsoft Open XML document. Undoubtedly, the document type is the default 'Save As' format for all Microsoft Word 2007 (and beyond) files. I can't imagine my colleague chose this new format because he was simply writing a type of letter, and, no, not an Open XML type of letter, Clippy. Furthermore, I must mention that not even Dreamweaver was unable to open this file.
It gets better, there is a Microsoft compatibility pack for Word 2007 users. Otherwise, you have scant options to even access this file. Someone has written an online conversion script to convert .docx to .doc, and this can be found at the cleverly titled site: docx2doc.com - and each file can be converted for a FEE of $5! Can you HEAR me rolling my eyes?! But alas, I cannot blame someone for attempting to capitalize on Microsoft's gloomy 'Upgrade or Die' mentality, and I choose to instead blame Microsoft for an unheeding ignorance as to their users desires/needs. Why would Microsoft exercise their muscle to enforce a universal adherence to this new file type (as it IS undoubtedly the default 'Save As') other than to simply bask in their ability to command compliance out of their lowly users, who they assume could not know any better. This does not bode well for Microsoft's standing in the OS/software pennant race, as they continuously come across like a team struck with executive autism some time in the late 1990's, forever damning hopes of being serious playoff contenders.