Resizing info pasted from Excel makes text sizes go crazy

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Sure does, doesn't it?

Try this for giggles:

Size it slowly and watch what happens. It seems that pasted text only scales up or down in fixed size increments rather than scaling smoothly. Resize it up to a certain point and nothing happens, then boom, it jumps several point sizes.

Odd indeed.

OLE indeed.

Instead of pasting, choose Edit, Paste Special. Put an X next to Link, then click OK. Now try resizing the result. Much nicer, yes? Yes.

Caveats: the Excel information is linked to the Excel spreadsheet now, not embedded in your PPT file. Keep the XLS file handy when you open the PPT file. Updates to the spreadsheet will update the information in the PowerPoint presentation, which is often a very GOOD thing, mind you. We're not complaining. Just be aware that it'll happen.

If you want to break the link, either use the links dialog or (much simpler) select the paste-linked information and ungroup. The formatting won't change, but the link to Excel is broken and you'll be left with a scad of individual objects. While they're all still selected, group them again so they stay together.

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