Re: CSV?
While I sympathize with the sentiment, it only really applies in the locked room scenario where somebody throws a file over the wall to you. If you're setting up a data transfer you are allowed to talk to the other side in advance, and even if not you can provide a data dictionary to specify fields and how they're stored (date format is the most serious problem, numerical data generally isn't unless there are very large integers, string quoting can be a bit of a pain, but field count checks will catch anything outrageous). In the scenario where you're the person both controlling the generating and reading ends of the process you have the luxury of making it fit your every need. Yes, there are more robust formats, but excel certainly isn't one of them.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
