How do I change the color of Strikethrough without changing the color of the text?

There are several good reasons to use strikethrough text. For instance - currently issueing a rolling set of actions from minutes with numbered points. Once completed these points are struck through. It would be useful to be able to use a paler line i.e. grey, so that the text is still legible despite clearly being struck through (in this our case, this would mean an item is resolved).

It makes no sense to me that a PDF file would be needed for something because Microsoft Word can't do it.

It makes no difference to me whether it makes sense to you. I was, after all, suggesting a workaround for something Word can't do - and, like I suspect you'll find to be the case with every other word-processor on the market, never has been able to do. Adobe can do it because it's just drawing static lines on a static page, not strikethrough text on a page subject to ongoing edits.

As for looking forward to "Microsoft's resolution in an update", don't hold your breath. It's not something that's likely to be added to any current version, so you'll have to wait for Word 2016's successor, at least.

Finally, as has already been said a number of times, this isn't the place to lobby for changes to Office. You can do that at: http://word.uservoice.com/. These forums are for providing solutions or, when none is available, possible workarounds. At times, too, users seems to expect Word to be able to do things, just because they want it to, regardless of the program's capabilities. Some people are quite demanding in that regard, as if it's their right to have whatever they want, so it's not surprising that the rationale for what is being asked might be questioned.

It makes no sense to me that a PDF file would be needed for something because Microsoft Word can't do it.  It's 2016, and this color strike-through issue is common business practice and certainly required for legal documents.  I had my own accounting business when I first posted this question.  I have since returned to my earlier career in health care finance in a leadership position, and it still presents a challenge when editing policies and other official documents.  

I understand that this issue should be presented to Microsoft.  I thought this forum would accomplish that, but I was obviously naive and wrong about that. I really appreciate all the people who have posted their shared need for this feature.  I am disappointed by the people who felt the need to argue that it is silly or needless, and I don't understand what they intended to accomplish by taking that position.

I look forward to more dialogue on this, and to Microsoft's resolution in an update.  It seems like a simple thing in the context of the major advancements in technology.

I came across this response while trying to do a powerpoint presentation in which I want to cross out a word to make it explicit that changing (and therefore the specific phrasing used) in this context has changed. There's plenty of reasons why a person would want to use it. This kind of idiotic egocentric thinking doesn't help the community, and is part of the reason why IT people get such a bad rap. Remember, just because you (think you) are good at computers, there's no reason to be condescending towards people who aren't - they are probably good at things you aren't, and have services you'll need and you don't want them to be condescending towards you. I know you're probably not around anymore... but I figure I'd put this out for the good of the community.

"Crossing something out electronically is a nonsense; period. That the facility is even made available is a questionable use of resources."