Thanks Jesslynne and kboland, for all the info. Lots to think about there - I'll read up on it and I think I'll probably end up rooting at some point, when I'm ready. I've just started learning/reading about rooting though, and have a couple of questions right off the bat (and these might already be answered in the links you've given me, I haven't read them yet):
1) (question about warranty edited to say I got the answer to this one already from Jeff's root tutorial)
2) (question about unrooting edited to say I got the answer to this one too from Jeff's root tutorial)
3) if I decide later that I want the apps back, can I reinstall them?
(as I mentioned, if these are already answered in the other threads just tell me and I'll go look for them so I don't waste your time.
)