A great alternative to Sense is SPB Shell (not freeware).
A great alternative to start menu is QuickMenu (freeware). It drops down and looks like WM6.1, though it is significantly more powerful. I've used it for a while but eventually went back to the WM stuff. Check it out at:
http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-...menu-v2-7.html