In my exceptionally well formatted documents, I always use SpaceAfterParagraph settings (to avoid the extraneous pilcrows), which can be adjusted very simply by code.
eg
[VBA]
Sub PatraSpace()
Selection.WholeStory
With Selection.ParagraphFormat
If .SpaceAfter = 12 Then
.SpaceAfter = 9
Else
.SpaceAfter = 12
End If
End With
Selection.HomeKey Unit:=wdStory
End Sub
[/VBA]