Group By doesn't elimiate nulls was a bit iffy, almost as though it should...

Getting your head round nullability is one of the key things you have to do to get round SQL.

And why would anyone think select into was a copy????

I think it would have been polite to explain that SQl in access is quite non-standard in places but that you can use widely applicable sql in it. Relying on things like distinctrow is a mistake, always try to get to compatible sql if you can. Not saying don't use it, but know that bit won't work if you port away from your current dbms.