Back in the old days, choosing File > New Document would give you just that: a new document. Now none of the programs I use, including InDesign, will do this simple task. Why does InDy force me to Suffer the Tortures of a Thousand Fields (my nickname for the New Document dialog box) every single time I want to create a new file?

You're absolutely right. Here's what to do: If you press Command-Option-N/Ctrl-Alt-N, InDesign will skip the New Document dialog and slap up a new document right quick-like. It uses the same specifications (margins, page size, and so on) as the last document preset you chose (we'll talk about document presets in just a moment). If you haven't made any document presets, you get the defaults: either a letter-size or an A4 page (depending on where you live). If you're not happy with the specs, you can always change the margins on your master page (Layout > Margins and Columns), and everything else in File > Document Setup.