This isn't just a Microsoft thing. I've seen the same behaviour in OS X when running huge Applescript jobs. The entire script would excecute consistently faster

This isn't just a Microsoft thing. I've seen the same behaviour in OS X when running huge Applescript jobs. The entire script would excecute consistently faster if I sat there and wiggled the mouse around. I've never really considered why that may be the case. This makes a lot of sense.