I have read thru this thread and didn't see anything (I may have missed it) that talks about this problem with Android 2.1 and my Hero. Basically it sucks. The HTC backup procedure to save my contacts was like a second grade science project and it has taken more than a week to get my contacts back in order.
The biggest problem (assuming I don't throw the phone back to Sprint, who says so far it is an Android and HTC problem, nothing they can do -- horse manure if they lose a customer) is that when I am ON a call. The screen blanks after x seconds, but if you need to go back to the screen (like hit "#" to terminate a voice message or even just hang up), there is no way to get back there!! Pressing the trackball doesn't do squat, pressing the back key screws up the call and sometimes leaves it in progress, usually requiring about a half dozen clicks or button presses to really terminate the call. Totally unacceptable.
Jon