[nttdemented]

Random mental flash back:

When I was 12 I picked on a little scrawny kid that lived a few doors down from me. We both got R/C cars for christmas and I was lucky enough to have 2 batteries, I used one while charging the other so the fun never stopped. This kid asked me what I did that my battery lasted so long and I told him that I pissed on it, let it sit for 10 minutes, dried of the excess and that within 5 more minutes the battery would be back up to charge. One hour later he came back to me a little worried that his battery wasn't working and a really smelly R/C car. Needless to say he when screaming back home and I had to wash a few cars to make enough money to buy him a new battery.

Yes pointless story I know, just had a massive brain fart after a greasy late lunch.

In reply to the OP's concerns, yes, custom ROM's, updates and reg tweaks that have been thrown around by the chefs in here have made pretty substantial improvements to battery life. But you can't cover the sun with your hand. It really depends on the usage you give to your phone. I can use my phone all day standing by, receiving calls, making some calls when I'm on the road, push mail on 7am-7pm (receive about 50-60 e-mails a day, reply mostly from my laptop though), check my g-mail and facebook during lunch, talk to my G/F over txts and the phone can survive the entire work day pretty well. By 7pm I need to hunt for a charger but being at the office or in the car mostly I always have a charger nearby.

Now... Sit down and start watching sprint TV, youtube a lot, browse constantly with 5 tabs open, use your GPS and WiFi and the battery won't last you more than 2 hours. Its all about moderation.