outlook 2003 programming using managed code?

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I'm not sure I'm posting this question in the correct newsgroup,
so please bear with me. I'm spending some time learning how
to customize outlook using VBA using the Sue Mosher text.
The next step, after VBA, is the COM library. But, overtime,
Microsoft will "cover" most of the important COM libraries
with managed code. I think this is a positive step. Managed
code is far easier to program with than the "bare" COM substrate.

So now my question: is there an "official" Microsoft managed
code layer for Outlook? It's an obvious next step. It's not a question
of "if" but a question of "when". I'm aware of the GotDotNet
Niobe project
(http://www.gotdotnet.com/community/workspaces/workspace.aspx?ID=E7071B93-79
70-4962-A4C2-D72AA2CFBCFF). I'll look into it. But I'd like to get the most
"bang" for my learning time and concentrate on the "official"
API, if there is one. I don't think there is yet. But I lose nothing
by asking.

I googled around for information here on the web and the
group:microsoft.public.outlook.* tree.
This is how I found Niobe. So I did do a little homework before asking -).

Thanks.