The People widget comes large and small - here's my wife's strategy with hers:
She uses the tall, narrow widget and sets everyone's primary action to their contact card.
Then, in the space left over on that page, she has a shortcut for each of the hot number she just wants to be able to press and ring immediately. (Long press blank space, select Shortcuts, Contacts, follow your nose.)
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My solution - don't bother with People - I use Google Gesture Search, free in the Market.
Use your finger like a crayon, draw the first letter or two of the name of interest on the screen - it populates a scrollable list immediately and filters as you scribble letters.
Tap the green phone icon to the left of the name to immediately call, tap the name to get the contact card to select other actions.
Not as sexy as People with pictures, but greased lightning for long lists.
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My wife also uses Gesture Search, and limits her People list to just the dozen or two she wants there.
Both of us are using Sense.
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Between this and NightAngel's advice (I didn't know that part myself!) - hope this helps!
