THAT'S the ticket!

Using an ODT file, I got INFO and selected that "all similar (ODT) files should be opened with the same application" i.e. NeoOffice 3.4.0

It worked. I made new ALIASES from (a few of) the files in question, and those aliases now open those ODT documents in Neo Office (as hoped) and no longer revert to the TEXT EDIT application for viewing.

Thanks a bunch.