> If the Microsoft Employee in question felt that was the answer, it must have been because, well, that was the answer.
The whole point is that Microsoft people are marking posts as answers for different reasons. Of course one such reason is that "that was the answer" but they are also marking posts as answers when the OP hasn't come back to a thread.
Supposedly this is because the assumption is that the OP has already received the answer in the thread but sometimes the posts they then mark as answers are in fact 100% questions. I have had posts of mine marked as answers by MS people when they said (only)
"Are you using SharePoint 2007 or SharePoint 2010?". (and that was the only reply in the thread).
By marking such a post as an answer they say they are "closing the thread". Unfortunately if they don't also lock the thread, the thread often doesn't stay closed and years later someone else will post a (usually different) question in the thread.
SP 2010 "FAQ" (mainly useful links):
http://wssv4faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx
WSS3/MOSS FAQ (FAQ and Links)
http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx
Both also have links to extensive book lists and to (free) on-line chapters
