For your info.... I write user support documentation for an IT Department for a government organization that employs 6,000 people. We are just now getting ready to deploy Office 2013, and I installed it yesterday so I could write about the changes from
Office 2010 to 2013. One of the best features about OneNote is the soft color hightlights, (not the dark colors as in Word) and also the use of other options to add color with the Quick steps, pencils etc., and of course the ability to organize the "colored"
tabs. I believe the Color tabs in OneNote is the main reason it's become so popular. Easy to colorcode. The color ribbens with color contrast helps the users to find what they need quickly and helps them be more efficient when creating a document. The gray
is ok for an option for a background, but offering 3 to 5 more soft colors with colors icons in the ribben helps users to find what they need quickly.
Microsoft has the majority of customers of the business world. Think before you take away useful tools, change is only good if it helps the user be more efficient at there job, and gives them a small joyful moment throughout the day while having to sit
and stare at a boring gray computer screen all day. Give them a break and make things a little brighter and fun without slacking on efficiency and production.
Thanks, C