Never used Word 2002, but Word 97 and Word 2000, both remember, what the last file type you used was. For example; if I do File, Open and the file type is 'doc', then I choose the file type of 'dot', then close word and re-open. Now, when I do File, Open, the file type is 'dot'.
Would have thought, Word 2002 would also do this...