Well you certainly have my permission to leave early!
Of course, my permission doesn't count for squat!
Actually running with IG.com in the INet zone and Protected Mode on breaks a few other things as well. Logging in takes a second click on the Login link (click once, enter password, then click again before the user name shows up.) Logging in from the home page results in a blank page and requires navigating to the home page again (refresh isn't good enough) before the user name shows up.
I dl'd the 2008.2 release back in June when I built this computer and didn't have these problems. Perhaps a MS update to IE7?
I'm usually working late in the evening; let me know if you need any more info.