So that list is there forever, and it cannot be gotten rid of unless I download a whole new wallet copy?
The list is there forever because it is a list of all of your transactions. Without it, you wouldn't be able to send any Bitcoin because the software wouldn't know what it can spend from.
If that is the case I will have to be careful of what I type in there for comments.
You can change those. Just go to the transactions tab and right click on a transaction. Then choose the option for "Edit label".