Thanks so much to everyone who helped me along! I'm writing up here as best I can what I did in case it benefits someone else. I did get an 8gb card today so I started by formatting it to FAT32 and then copying my files back onto it.
Currently Running:
Android 2.2 SkyRaider 2.5.2
Baseband 2.15.00.07.28
Stock Kernel (though I think I'll upgrade to Hydra tomorrow)
My DInc running stock configuration was already rooted with Unrevoked3 and then I ran unrevoked-forever. Since I'm paranoid when it comes to losing things I did a Nandroid backup as well as a Titanium and Astro app backup then proceeded to "operate."
Next step thanks to Heathsrow:
Step 4: Flash HTC Stock Recovery Image through hboot -> [Recovery] Stock 2.1 Recovery Image for DI - xda-developers
(put into sd card and hboot apply) (this will restore the recovery back to stock as it is needed for the RUU) You need to put this file into the root (i.e. not in a folder) of your SD Card, make sure the file reads PB31IMG.ZIP and not PB31IMG.ZIP.ZIP. Boot into hboot by turning off your phone and then hold the volume down button and the power button until it boots into hboot. Once in hboot, it should ask you if you want to apply the update, click the volume up button to apply the update. Once it is down, it the volume up button to reboot the phone.
Now you have an s-off phone with everything else stock.
After this was completed I started with the baseband upgrade which I found
http://adrynalyne.stfuthxbye.net/radio/2.15.00.07.28/PB31IMG.zip
Since I'm on a Mac and not Windows the executable wouldn't work for me so I found the image alone and booted into HBOOT, the phone found the update and asked if I wanted to apply so I chose yes and it did. (note it didn't erase anything at all from my phone at this point).
Next step, again thanks to Heathsrow was:
Step 6: Flash Clockworkmod Custom Recovery. It is available at public:forever [RootWiki] under Installation Instructions it is the second bullet. Put this file in the root of the SD Card and hboot apply) Make sure the file reads PB31IMG.ZIP and not PB31IMG.ZIP.ZIP. (This will load clockworkmod recovery on your phone so that u can apply updates.)
After this I diverted from the previous instructions because I had already downloaded and purchased the ROM Manager from the Marketplace so after backing up all my info from the sdcard I started this and went to chose the ROM to install.
I started with SkyRaider latest stable edition and chose to wipe the phone after downloading the ROM and clicking to install.
This was pretty much it for me. Once it finished and the phone came back up there was Froyo and it seems everything is working (though I haven't pushed it hard yet). I went to Titanium and restored the applications and settings I had backed up and it all came back to life. (though I did make sure not to chose any of the Google or HTC apps) I double-checked with the Astro backup and there were a few I didn't even reinstall.
I know this is not nearly as detailed as Heathsrow's but just wanted to add it in to the knowledgebase!
Thanks again and I hope to be able to contribute more as time goes by!
(reports from Hydra tomorrow hopefully)
Update Sept 6:
After trying out a bunch of ROMS and a couple kernels I've settled down with the Virtuous 2.6 ROM and King BFS#2 Kernel.(though I do like the Cyanogen and SkyRaider ROMS too!) I'm also using a modified keyboard primarily so I can get the pipe | key.
Quadrant score is around 13-1400 and I'm happy with that. I've removed the bloatware I didn't want and "so far" everything is running smooth and peppy!