Which version? 2007 runs just fine. 2010 requres some custom libs, but there are tutorials (there is also a patch that makes it an endless free trial). 2013 is not a finished product IMO, so I haven't used it all or tried in Wine. 2016... yeah, that's a PITA to get working. One thing I can suggest is go with the MSVC++ installer from this link and go from there. You might also need x64dbg, but I seriously doubt it.
MS Word past 2007 is not MS Word anymore. Microsoft fucked up the menu and the toolbar intentionally, to lock new users into their new fancy user interface with menus-as-buttons. LibreOffice is more MS Word from the usability standpoint than the MS Word 2016. Like, you can select Format - Paragraph and edit your paragraph formatting, all in one dialog, and not search for the right icon out of a hundred pictograms spread evenly over ten dynamic toolbars.
I completely agree, I like LibreOffice way more than MS Office. It's basically got the pre 2007 look and feel, and that is what I like and what I'm used to.
I just happen to work on getting MS Office working on Wine for a small local company and know a thing or two about getting it working in Wine.
MS took over that market in the 90's when shit was settlig down after the UNIX wars and people didn't actually have an alternative. MS came in and swooped the market.
It is hard to switch when ”the defaults"are in place.
What's "custom layout tables"? Anyway, I now only play https://typst.app card, because I don't use LO Writer anymore, only LO Calc for some stuff. Typst has a ton of scripting capability and granular customization, so it will probably beat your "custom layout tables" by a mile kilometer!
Typst is the future for document creation. Mark my words.
Matrix room? Where? There is no official Matrix space.
I agree, I hate discord, but that's where everybody is messaging, including authors. BTW, we had a "community call" a few days ago in the discord. It's a monthly thing.
It's proprietary and paid, so even if it works great, it is still closed source.
It's also not a great sign that their website has no option to refuse cookies, only accept (not even a customise menu).
I only like CO because they directly support Wines development, and host their website. Soamy FLOSS projects don't survive because of no funding. The cookies thing is probably an honest oversite, I've seen this forgotten on many sites.