1. corruption is big issue,  but could be that files built on default.ect PRIOR to the latest release may be free of corruption.  [untested].
 
2. files created WITHOUT the old template (eg. shift + new)  are also without the corruption (altought those created with internal clock set after 2000 have their own issues-- but not corruption ones!).
 
3. in just the right circumstances loading a corrupt file can cause a non-corrupt file also open in ecco to become corrupted!  
 
 
4. the Advanced Diagnosis Toolkit will test & tell you if corrupted  & help restore if possible.
 
 
5. The ecco API does not give us access formatting info (bold, underline, etc.).   Item by item move thus less than satisfying.   You can however copy whole notebooks with formatting.  Trick is setting up the columns correctly.   On the 'to do' board somewhere is tool designed to do this.    as you mention,  folder rules are still a problem,  although the EM ADT does allow you to copy all of your folder rules for (currently)  manual re-input.