software for thesis writing (text+figures) - (Jul/28/2013 )

I will send my advisor file in Open Office format. I don't care how he opens that ;) (OO is free to dowload and the new MS Office can open .odt)

Anyway I think DTP programs are generaly used after you have complete text. And even if not, there are many ways how to deal with that, PDF comments for example.

Actually it has also some drawback to use Word for sharing. For example not everyone has new versions and there is increase of docx files landing in my email. Older versions had several problems with the new files even with plugin. And MS Office is a payed software. Not all institutions upgraded. Of course I will send Word to someone outside, but preferably in old .doc and as you said, those are just drafts. My work that I need to finalize myself, I would just write in whatever is best for that.