The answer for your first question is YES. VC++ 2005 allows you develop pure native applications without the need for .Net to run your application. All editions of VS2005 allows you to do so. Depending on the exact technology you want to use, you might want to choose one edition over the other. You can find a list of comparisons at http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hs24szh9.aspx

As for the controls issues, the windows folks would know more but probably other members of the VC++ team might have more details as well.

Thanks,
Ayman Shoukry
Program Manager
VC++ Team