I've got an older version of Photoshop. (5.5) It does 99% of what I need it to. But, sometimes (when I'm designing for buttons, especially) I want to make text curve or bend. I can do it with a combination of distortions and effects. But, it is a HUGE pain! I usually end up going into my 3D software. But, that's kind of a pain, too, just for curved text. Do any of the newer versions of Photoshop include a good function for this?

The newer versions of photoshop do lots of great stuff with text - curved, fit to a shape, arcs, waves ... When I first got away from 5.5 that was the biggest thing for me. Since then I've learned a ton of things I never could have done with the old version.

Starting with 6.0, they offered a way to curve text easily.