While my rom rom is "Tweaked and Loaded" most of the applications do not run until you invoke them. Therefore my roms should have better battery life. I too hated the battery life on the stock rom and most if not all custom roms have better life.
But if you got it, use it! They do have technology to help out with your battery-hog you've purchased. Transceiver (radio that must send/recieve to operate), Big backlit screen, etc. I have tweaked it, but I still realize I need to occassionally charge my battery throughout the day. I don't want to go back to a clamshell phone.
