This is one of those things that seems so simple to me, that I must have it wrong.

I have a centralized network of databases hosted on a server using FMS 7 (not Advanced). I want to create runtime solutions that I can distrubute to users that would simply be an automated "Open Remote" to a specified, static network address. This would save me from having to distrubute FMP 7 copies to 50+ people who are never going to use them for anything except connecting to this database, thus saving me money and them the hassles of connection. Is this possible?

No it's not possible, not since the FileMaker 3 SDK (which cost a fair amount of money, but which FileMaker discontinued, because it didn't cost enough :-]. You are basically trying to avoid paying for copies of FileMaker, by buying one copy of FileMaker Developer, for less than $500, and making 50 runtimes for free. FileMaker sees no reason to support this; why should they?

If these 50 people need full access to FileMaker functionality, all of it, at full speed, then buy them copies. You can certainly get a bulk discount. Give them each a FileMaker "Opener" file for ease of connection.

If they only need very light access, you could upgrade to Server Advanced and use Instant Web Publishing; which is miles ahead of version 6's, but still has a few bugs. Quite usable however, for light use. You would have to redo some of your layouts and navigation to accommodate its limitations.