I really like adw.launcher on my ally. Feels like it made the phone slightly quicker, though it could just be my imagination. I really like the option to pin 6 apps along the bottom "dock". It allows you to completely clear off the screen.

http://androidforums.com/application-reviews/98315-adw-launcher-adw-launcher-review-video.html

 

Another vote for ADW.Launcher. Been using since I got the phone and I love it compard to the stock and LG Homes.

 

Can't think of any reason that the launcher would eat 20 megs. Mine only takes up about 1.80 megs if I remember right. You could try going into the app manager and clear out the cache for the Market. The market can quickly eat up memory if you don't flush the cache from searches every once in awhile, especially if you do a lot of market browsing. Do the same from within the browser as well. I make a habit of clearing my cache files every night before I shut the phone down.

 

LauncherPro is an awesome "Home" for the Ally. Just make sure you set it to default and then Kill the stock theme. I had it on my Ally (back when I had an Ally) and it's on my wife's Ally. Much quicker than the Lg Home or their re-skinned Android home.

 

I gained more memory by using LauncherPro, you might want to take a look at your apps and see whats going on because you definitely have an issue, can you tell us what apps you have installed?

 

Helix was good when I had my Eris. I really like LauncherPro--it actually makes my phone faster. Love it!

 

okay for now to start with, get rid of juice defender and all task killers, and things like that, u dont need them because of the way linux works, task killers is for windows-like operating system, trust me i used task killers a lot but than i was told this and stopped, its a lot better. ill look through the other programs and post an edit later

 

sorry moderator for double post, clicked quote instead of edit i think =/

EDIT: Get rid of:
History Eraser - you can delete browsing history within android system itself
The Weather Channel - you dont need this, android has a weather widget
[I'll add more as i go through em]

 

Thats because you are running lwo on RAM, delete the My Verizon, delete everything that u can use the browser to get because the way this phone is set up, it uses phones internal memory for RAM and stuff too, so more apps = less speed. If you REALLY REALLY need your apps I would say root it and get app2sd so you can install apps on the SD Card