That's not rooting.
That's most likely some app/setting on your phone acting funky.
Rooting a phone does not change it per se. It only enables you to do things you couldn't before.
It's like getting the key to access the basement in your house. It'd be silly to blame the key if your house suddenly starts crumbling down on you! More than likely, it'd be crumbling because you've been messing with the foundation!
(unless the house is just that old or poorly built...)
To help out with the SD card, you can try SD Speed Boost, it's a free app in the Market that should help you. Of course, your sd cards' class is also a factor, but I find a setting of 1792 to be somewhat satisfying regardless of class number.
As for the notification area thing, I have no idea what is going on.
I have had my indulge for quite a while now, and I can say the notification area's behavior has not changed pre/post root, once again hinting at the fact that it might be some funky app on your phone being a little too messy...