So ..... how do you REALLY turn off Clear Type?

[Shoonay]

I've turned off Clear Type in the Display Properties

You mean by using that cool Power Toy type proggie called... ClearType (or something like that)? If so I'm afraid there's not much to do other then maybe upgrade MSN to the latest version (whichever that is, I don't use it) and try there?
Maybe there is a hidden registry string to turn it off?