Way to 'relax' inflexible Browse dialog

I've never liked the hierarchies & locations that Windows suggests I should use to save files. For example, 'My Documents' always seemed like a pointless extra barrier beween the root and the first-level folders I create. And until Win7, it was easy to ignore the computer's notions of where files should live. But increasingly now, many programs put up this dialog (below) when asking for a Save location, and its starting point seems to be super-sticky -- that is, I haven't found a way to change its default initial view.



I find it irritating to have to double-click in this box 3 (or more) times just to browse to a location like C:\Mudpies. I know enough not to mess with system files (cut my teeth on DOS), so I have no need for a "safety cushion" around the root folder (as one modern-day schoolmarm type once insisted was the reason). Is there a setting I don't know about that would make this dialog more flexible? TIA.

As far as I know, this is down to the individual program. There are many folder dialogues (as you've probably noticed) and most are only included for legacy compatibility reasons.

Annoyingly, some developers insist on using the (very) old dialogues instead of the modern ones. As a result, you get this.

Ahh, I was afraid this might be the answer. Thank you CJ.