when running IE8 without protected mode on when you visit wgt.com it will cause an immediate error... you can simply cancel and continue however you cannot access certain secure wgt features like purchasing credits.
ive found some of the problems with hitches in the meter to be reduced when running with protected mode off.. however without full compatibility with all areas of wgt ive gone back to running the site in protected mode..
the main reason im reporting this is to possibly help with the meter smoothness issue. I beleive it is reduced when wgt is run without protected mode..