Enterprise editions exist with 100% offline installation, but unfortunately, home and business licenses have an "offline install" that requires online activation...[0]

This has been a huge PITA for me since I often need Word and Excel on a computer that's restricted from accessing the internet.

[0]: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Use-the-Office-2016...

This is a bit kafka-esque:

> You need to be connected to the internet to download this installer file, but once that's done, you can then install Office offline on a PC at your convenience.

> ...

> After your Office installation is complete, you need to activate Office. Be sure you're connected to the Internet and then open any Office application, such as Word or Excel.

I mean the lede is "problems with slow speed or unreliable connections" but at the same time ... offline is offline.

Precisely my thinking (based on supposition). Adobe provides similar activation for offline computers (a sort of challenge/response where you take a number off the offline computer, enter it on their website on a different computer, bring a number back to the offline computer to finish activation).

I assume they just have decided to make this functionality a special case for enterprises of a certain size. I emphasized to them this could be bought through a business channel if needed but I assume I have not the right scale.

That’s only available with an EA, which means 250 seats or more.