Customize the Open/Save As links on Office XP plus Windows XP
Just read KB282087 - HOW TO: Customize the My Places Bar in the “Open” and “Save As” Dialog Boxes. This Knowledge base article has been deleted and superseeded by How to customize the My Places bar in both the Open and the Save As dialog boxes in Office.
Of course, that box had to be better than the one that came with Windows. It is possible to add more folder shortcuts than it has from factory settings, and it’s been around for 2 years.
Even the standard system box is customizable, through some registry research.
As for the other people, users of MS Office clones, they shouldn’t worry. This feature will be implemented in 2-3 years (or will be considered irrelevant).