We do a lot of work with SharePoint 2010. The way we work with it is using the OpenXML SDK 2.0. I realize this isn't an option for you, but the fluent UI modifications you're looking for are.
Your .dotm templates store fluent UI configuration in their XML definitions, as you know. You can use this tool to modify the ribbon to meet your needs. The upside of this method is it doesn't remove print from word entirely, only for the documents we tell it to do so.
http://openxmldeveloper.org/blog/b/openxmldeveloper/archive/2010/08/10/23248.aspx[
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If you absolutely have to disable it entirely in word, I recommend looking into macros or a plug-in using WPF (if only because office plug-ins in WPF are blissfully simple to create). Should make quick work of disabling the fluent UI action.
More here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee691833.aspx#odc_Office2010Introduction2OutSpaceUI_CustomizingOutSpaceUserInterfaceCOMAddIn[
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As for printing multiple documents, sounds like a macro, plug-in, or custom print queue code in your vb6 app.