Rachel, what you say makes sense. “Positioning” the form as a ‘topmost’ item would give it more precedence than other items on the page.

But, I’m wracking my brains to think of an APPLICATION that does this..

Not that having the effect in an application makes it valid, but any time you mention usability you need to take into account common experience. I *think* the common experience across most operating systems would point to forms (or controls on a dialog) as being indented. As you only really have three virtual levels to work in (outdent, flat, indent… if outdent is even a word!) then you need to leave space on that 3D plane for buttons to be depressed into…

Or I may just be making this all up off the top of my head! (wouldn’t be the first time). I’ll shut up now and hopefully an ‘expert’ will come along and put us all right.