Can't replicate your problem in IE8. Backspace works fine in any IE8 text box. I sense the problem is in the app (The IT support ticket) you are using in IE8.
Lucky for you, your backspace works
We get the same issue on Google.com, Yahoo.com and Microsoft.com websites. Different computers, different users also replicate it.
Apparently a lot of people get this problem, I googled it. Unfortunately the fixes I have seen so far requires access privileges I don't have. I was hoping for simpler one.
Other than using notepad and copying and pasting.
I am thinking it may be related to some of the apps/add-ons that my office overloads our machines with. But I get it on my home machine as well?
Granted at home I rarely use IE so I tend to forget about the bug (feature?) until I make a typo while using it.