If you have a custom style that hasnt been used yet in a document, it wont be listed in the styles drop down. So it would be ideal to list these custom styles, similar to them being visible in the styles/formatting dialog when you have set it to 'Custom Styles'.
The style drop down has the advantage that it only shows styles that are in use. It's really what people appreciate. My own experience in trainings and knowing frustration that people had in Word. I would definitely not like such a change.
So how do you select a style that you created but havent used yet?
(In reply to Jay Philips from comment #2) > So how do you select a style that you created but havent used yet? F11, if needed select the desired view mode, and then double click. This is a one time action of course, since from then the style is available in the drop down
(In reply to Cor Nouws from comment #3) > F11, if needed select the desired view mode, and then double click. > This is a one time action of course, since from then the style is available > in the drop down As we are hoping for users to create new styles through the styles drop down (bug 85415), we shouldnt need for them to open the Styles and Formatting dialog in order to set a newly created style.