It's weird that RIM stuff isn't well made.
I wouldn't want to use it as for a phone very much, that is why being able to do other stuff with it is important to me.
I'm still not sure how I feel touch screen or how important a keyboard is.
I have the Blackberry Curve, with the full QWERTY keyboard, and trust me...it's nice. Mr. Lindsey has the Blackberry Pearl, and it's got two or three letters to a key - I don't even know. And it's a bitch to use. Especially since you say you want to use it for other things, rather than primarily phone use. I hate the phone too, so I can identify with you there.
Mainly the issues with mine are not the fault of the phone. I've been rougher with this one than I think I have with other phones in the past, and I have definitely learned from my errors in judgement. I have a belt clip-type holster on mine, and there's an almost rubberized strip of material at the top of the phone where the holster clips in...and the holster has peeled a bunch of it off. And then in my nervous fidgeting while I'm bored, I peeled more off. My screen also has some pretty deep scratches in it, but that's because I accidentally set it in front of the cash drawer at work and when I had cash sales it would get knocked to the ground with some good force.
Basically, with my next one, and the advice I would give anyone else - is to get a screen protector for it, and buy a better holster type thing if you're going to use one. I like it because I can clip it to my purse, or clip it to my belt when I'm walking around and listening to music or talking on it. The holster I got was a gift (I picked it out though) and was pretty cheap on Amazon. My friend got it for me for Christmas as a stocking stuffer. If you're not a clip person, those rubberized "skins" you see people use for their Blackberry phones and iPhones...use them. They work.
As far as things that may be RIM's issue and not mine - the part around the screen seems to be showing signs of being glued to the whole...panel, for lack of a better term. Either that or the plastic underneath is a different color and the finish is just rubbing off from use. Also, my phone freezes A LOT. As in, a few times a week - for no good reason. It's very pesky.