[creedo]

flashing a new rom is kind of a heavy thing to get into on your brand new phone. you can customize the crap out of it without reinstalling the whole os. I don't think activating would remove anything but try something like cookie's home tab before you get into flashing. I didn't have to unlock or flash anything to get my sprint tp2 just the way I like it.

another reason to think twice is there is a custom thing or two your carrier put on there that you might not get on a new rom. like mine has sprint tv and a setting to update my internet settings. when I got a new rom and my internet died, the setting was gone and I couldn't fix it. on the stock rom the setting worked and I was right back up.

ps my experience its you get activated a lot faster if you just keep calling and nagging them. it's a five minute process and they can walk you though it over the phone (a different phone).