I think theres is a big difference between a jb iphone and the stock Froyo 2.2 regarding customization.
Having both (sitting in front of me actually) and having experienced dealing with both, there is really no comparison. First of all, as was mentioned by the OP, customizing a jb iphone doesnt start with just figuring out how you would like to customize it. First you have to find out which jb is compatible with your phone, back up your data, save shsh blobs (if you want to protect your ability to unlock), etc. Then you have to go through the whole process, how ever long it takes. Hopefully you get it to work on the first try and your phone doesnt freeze on the apple logo. Then you have to start installing cydia apps which may or may not work on your version of the phone (in some cases there may be no way of knowing other than trial and error), and when you are unlucky, you may find your self having to restore your phone (which erases everything), and re-jailbreaking. As if this isnt enough, you also have to consider that cydia apps may very well cause the phone to lag, randomly hang, randomly close... need i continue?
And on top of all that, you still cant even implement 1/4 of the customization you can on Froyo with a few unbuggy lag-free clicks of a button. You will never get homescreen widgets no matter what nor the ability to place app icons wherever you want on your homescreen, or blank homescreens (should you want them) – just to name a few features that are stock right out of the box. And I mean this doesnt even scratch the service of Froyos customizability, but it easily proves my point.
And if thats not enough, now factor in the never ending battle with apple over being able to re-jailbreak your phone after they release new firmware meant to remove your jailbreak and/or unlock forever. Ask any proud owner of a new iphony 4 how much fun they had waiting for a jb to be released for the recent version of iOS 4.1, which finally only came out a few days ago. Not to mention that all those who eagerly jumped at the first chance of using it may now not be able to unlock their phone. I mean please, is iphone really that worth it – to become such a demanding burden in your life that you have to spend this much time to get it to do the basic things you want, like customize your dock?
Now look at Froyo. Open your new phone out of the box, turn it on, open the app market, download LauncherPro (in only a matter of seconds and FOR FREE!!), install (also seconds, no lag, no restart, no hours on forums trouble shooting and stressing wether your phone will ever work again), open LauncherPro preferences, (actually here you can do many things but for example...) change number of docks, allow loop scrolling, go back to home screen and scroll through your 15 icon dock in groups of 5, now long press any space on the dock and decide if you want to launch an app, a specific activity whithin an app, a webpage, a contact, etc. or add a swipe gesture action so that that space on the dock will do a different feature depending on wether it is tapped or swiped. In a few minutes you have had the option of configuring 30 refined functions into your dock based on wether you click or swipe the spaces, and best of all it is smooth, doesnt slow down your phone, and is actually very simple, intuitive, and easy to use. Try that on a jailbroken iphone
All this without even having to resort to Froyos equivalent to jailbreaking (i.e installing 3rd party/unknown apps) which is as easy as opening settings and clicking "allow unknown apps". Like I said, no comparison...
