Keyboard - No Lock & Texting

[Ride]

Again, loved my Pro pre-Gingerbread, worked well with a keyboard:

1. Anyone found a workaround to No Lock not responding to key presses to wake up (other than volume / power?)

2. Texting is now worse (IMO).
BEFORE: just start typing, ie Doe | pulls up Jane Doe | Select Jane and start typing
NOW: typing in contact screen no longer responds to input, you have to select a number and 'Text contact'

Anyone know if this can be reset to original Blackberry-esque flow?

Thanks!