I have been thinking about rooting for some time now and I am still in the dark about it. Can someone put a list or something of the pros and cons of rooting?
Quick list...
Pros:
1. More responsive phone due to less-burdened ROMs (i.e., removal of bloatware) and overclocking
2. More and cooler apps available when rooted (wi-fi tethering at the top of the list)
3. More options for look and feel (plethora of ROMs)
4. Ability to have Android version not officially available from VZW (i.e., Froyo / 2.2)
5. Ability to have more apps installed (due to removal of bloatware, or apps2sd, or cache2cache (all depending on the ROM selected)
6. Basically extends the useful life of the phone
7. Coolness factor of having a rooted phone
Cons:
1. VZW / HTC warranty violated
2. Necessitates un-rooting before returning phone if needed
3. Some amount of learning-curve needed for root-related topics (lots of options available to one now)
4. Little chance of bricking your phone, but you are exposing yourself to issues should you modify something you shouldn't have without taking adequate precautions
Hope that helps. Cheers.