I shut off those popup boxes after the first one hits in a W2 to verify the state ID number...it doesn't even let me get to the dang box before it pops up nagging me!  So I always hit the checkbox on that popup window to not show me again and no more popup boxes appear until the next time I restart the program.

But those pink boxes, tell us when a spot needs to be filled in, I use those a lot!   Weird that they missed it for the VA Direct Debit Date...I know it lights up pink for Federal and CA does as well.