...why Outlook's 2003 (the pay product) message rules are so *******
***** compared to those in Outlook Express, (the free product)

No this isn't a troll, the ones in OE are so much more versatile.

Because they are two completely, totally different products.

Two different product teams.
Two different applications.

They just share a single word in their name.

--
f.h.
Microsoft Outlook MVP