Newbie questions...

Let me preface with saying thanks to folks who answer these questions quickly. I hope to become one who helps other in the future (once I get the hang of this phone).

Questions:

1. Is there a way to prevent the preinstalled HTC apps from launching when you are using replacement apps like Handcent? Everytime a txt comes in I get two notifications and see that suddenly both programs are running (obviously draining twice as much battery). I'd like to "make a default" SMS program and not have both running. (This happens with email too - I have set up my gmail to pull 2 Pop3 accts - so when I get an email on one of them the HTC email program notifies me and so does gmail).

2. Email apps - am I assuming correctly that only gmail pushes and other programs I must manually hit refresh?

3. The HTC email app - is there a way to have more than one Pop3 acct enter into the same mailbox instead of having to switch between both? (And this one doesn't seem to push/or check email frequently).

4. Any suggestions for a different/larger keyboard - I'm the opposite of carnie folks - I have large hands and am finding texting difficult.

Again, thanks.