Where did you read MSDN isn't providing Office anymore?  The official MSDN Subscriptions blog mentions nothing about it, except that they are re-releasing Office due to some "litigation concerns" with different activation methods.  see here: blogs.msdn.com/.../update-on-office-2003-office-xp-plans.aspx

On a side note: I would be interested in hearing your pro's and con's about using DevExpress' XtraReports product, as I'm about to start a new dev product and that is the reporting product we will be using.

We have the MSDN here and i have used it many of times.  It is nice because i can get copies of OS's for testing or simply download the software i need without having to go to either the help desk or to our infrastructure team.

"What value is there in MSDN that I am overlooking?"

Free magazine subscription?

"Great Plains" or whatever all that crap is thats been available for a couple of years but you've never even heard of otherwise?

Windows 95/98/ME on demand?

I decided to forgo the MSDN subscription and purchase the standard edition for the same reasons that you are considering.  We had a subscription for a couple of years and never used it much.

I have been using standard edition + resharper + OSS tools for a while now and I haven't missed the MSDN subscription at all.

Mike asks a good question MSDN - Is it worth it? I have two, count em, 2 subscriptions (work + MVP)

Mike asks a good question MSDN - Is it worth it? I have two, count em, 2 subscriptions (work + MVP)

Maybe the microsoft action pack  might be interesting for you?

@todd - RE: Office...After reading this(blogs.msdn.com/.../30-days-and-counting.aspx)  and noticing the dates of the posting I realize this is late news...I misunderstood. Even so, the Office availiability is still minor to me.

@Derrick - I can see value in that but it just isn't something I require right now. Especially since I am the infrastructure team and help desk. :)

@Joe - That's funny. I guess $900 for a magazine isn'bad

@Eric - It's good to hear my reasoning isn't alone.

@sotto - maybe but I know nothing about it

@Windywinter - Thanks for the deep insight and profound instruction. Before passing on MSDN I actually wanted to hear from developers who generate light, not heat, about things I may be missing out on regarding my MSDN subscription which would justify my company's expenditure. Since I don't know as much as you do I ask questions. If you first read, then think, then you'd observe MS Office is a peripheral issue in my posting.

If microsoft's partner signup website would ever resume working, I'd be the newest "Empower ISV" partner specifically to get the MSDN subscription:

US$375 and 10 user licenses for most of the operating systems, and 1 license for most of the server products, is certainly less expensive than buying even one copy of 2003 Server Standard, and it comes with Office 2003 or 2007, and all the development tools, each of which costs more than the initial outlay.

... and then I could develop some perforce tools to embed within VS2005/2008.