Not sure about this phone

I've had the tilt2 for 5 days now and I'm not just thrilled with it.  I was very excited about it when I was buying it, but everyday the excitement dwindles.  It is SLOW!  Almost everything I do gets hung up at some point.  I had the blackjack2 before this phone and I usually had a G connection, but with the tilt2 I've only ever had the edge network.  Not to mention I don't live in a 3G area.  I use my cell for tethering because I live way out in the country and have no other access to the internet on my pc.  I have excellent reception out here though because I live close to a tower.  I've never been an i-anything fan, but I'm starting to wonder if I should have gone with the iphone.  It seems like it is so much easier to work with, but I wouldn't be able to tether with it.  There are apps that I wish I could get, but can't find one or the ones I do find won't work after downloading them.  I'm just still not sure.

No, I really don't know much about flashing.  What is it exactly and what is the purpose?  Does it affect my warranty?

Got any recommendations on which ROM to use?  i've been out there, but haven't seen one that knocks my socks off yet.  Haven't applied any to the Tilt - had a Fuze I had done several.