Ok, Look. I think i found the Only fix so far. first go on Gmail and update all phone numbers in your contacts (to prevent adding all numbers back in) You will have to do a hard reset!!! If you dont want to do that, then you will not get picture mail until you do.
All your paid apps will show paid for once you put your gmail info in. (very easy). I did this last night after 3 months of not getting picture mail. It also took care of all Force closes. SEE THE DIRECTIONS:
1/ Switch off the phone (either removing the battery or shutting down by holding the "end call" button for few seconds
2/ While being switched off, hold the "home" (house) and "back" (the arrow in the lower right corner)
3/ Hit briefly the "end call" button" while still holding the "home" and "back" buttons.
4/ Release the "home" and "back" button, a white screen containing technical information should appear, with a red message asking for hitting the "menu" button.
5/ Hit the "menu button", the Hero will now boot with factory settings.
Factory settings means that every information stored on the ROM (NOT your SD memory card) will be cleared (for me it was just the address book which was instantly updated thanks to my Google account).