HEY, I GOT A REAL ANSWER!
"Thank you for writing to Windows Live Hotmail Technical Support.... you mentioned that the addresses in your Favorite contacts list have been disappearing. You also mentioned that you cannot add your own account in your Favorite contacts list. I understand how inconvenient this can be for you. I am glad to assist you today.
By default, only your Favorite contacts will appear on the right side of the page when composing a message (in Classic version). Please be guided that from Preferred contacts, it is now called Favorite contacts. Only contacts that are marked as "Favorite" will appear in your Favorite contacts when in the Compose page. If you wish to show all your contacts in the Favorite contacts box, you will need to edit each of your contacts and mark them as favorites. Please follow the steps below on how to do this:
1. Click "Contacts."
2. Select a contact you want to add.
3. Click "Edit."
4. Check the box beside "Mark this contact as a favorite."
5. Click "Save."
You can also view all your contacts in your Favorite contacts box without marking them as favorites by clicking "Everyone..." link located below this box.
WHAT THE HECK? WE KNEW ALL THIS. THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM.
BUT WAIT, THEY CUT TO THE CHASE NOW ......
"Moreover, about adding your own account, By design, you cannot add your own e-mail address in your Favorite contacts list. I appreciate your effort in letting us know your concern and mentioning the kind of service that you prefer. We would like to give you the best e-mail experience possible. Your feedback is of great help in our drive to continually improve our products and services."
THEY UNDERSTAND HOW CONVENIENT THIS IS FOR US, BUT "BY DESIGN" WE CAN NO LONGER ADD OUR OWN EMAIL ADDRESSES TO OUR FAVORITE CONTACTS LIST. (some new design apparently, because my favorite contacts list, with my own address included, worked flawlessly for the last three years).
"In the meantime, you may want to create a group contact and add your own account in it, so that when you want to include your own account to the message you will be sending, you can simply click on the group name. Below are the steps on how to do this:
To create a group contact:
1. Sign in to the Windows Live Hotmail Web site with your Windows Live ID.
2. In the left pane, click the "Contacts" button.
3. Click on the "Add to group" button then click "New group."
4. Type in your preferred group name in the "Group name" field then click the "Save" button. Your new contact group typically appears under "All contacts" unless you already have other group contacts in your account.
To add your e-mail address to a contact group:
1. In the left pane of your Windows Live Hotmail account, click the "Contacts" button
2. Select your e-mail address from your contacts list.
3. Click on the "Add to group" menu then select the group you have just created to add your own address.
Note: You should be viewing your account in the classic version of Windows Live Hotmail.
IT'S EASIER TO JUST TYPE IN MY OWN ADDRESS. THE POINT OF HAVING IT ON MY FAVORITES LIST WAS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER PAGE TO ACCESS IT.
If you have any additional suggestions for new features that you would like to be added to Windows Live Hotmail, please submit your feedback at:
http://feedback.live.com/eform.aspx?productkey=wlmail&page=wlfeedback_home_form
You are valuable at Windows Live and we look forward to providing you with consistent and effective service. We appreciate your input and involvement in our Windows Live products."
I APOLOGIZE FOR USING CAPS. COULD WE SUGGEST THAT THEY GO BACK TO THE "OLD" DESIGN?