Regarding Handcent, been using Handcent (and GDE) for over a month, no problems w/force closes or text delays. Really like Handcent, including the voice option, which works pretty well. When I have a longer text I'll often speak it and then make a couple corrections and send.
The only problem I have, really, is that the virtual keyboard overlays a little of the bottom of the handcent pop-up window. I'm using the HTC keyboard on my Droid, though.
I haven't used Chomp, so I don't know how it differs, so my post isn't helping the OP much...sorry.
