i think the pic from here shows how big of a difference it is (notice the same piece of paper used to cover the tp1 screen is put on the tp2):
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showpost.p...06&postcount=4
the keyboard is so much better... and seeing how you use your phone to type out drafts, you will appreciate it. you can remap your keys with free software to add tab btw.
the dpad is the only thing that may bother you. i personally hated the tp1 dpad even tho i mastered it, so i dont mind that its gone. just have to get used to using the touch screen more.. but with more screen realestate, it makes it easier to view more of the screen... imagine typing up your drafts on that big screen compared to the tp1. anyway, there is a tool that remaps the volume keys to dpad functions.
if u have the money and u can get it for 350 or less, i say upgrade... the next htc phones to hit probably wont have dpads either, so why wait? and an htc phone with a keyboard? that probalby wont cmoe around for another year... to me, that's a long time to be using a tiny vga screen with cramped keyboard..