Stay rooted.

 

If you use Fresh you might be able to push the stock apps you want back on to the phone using the Kitchen, this worked for me with Fresh 2.0D, but I haven't tried it with 2.1.1. I think Flipz has a download for all the stock apps as well, and if they're apk's you should be able to put them on your SD Card and install from ES File Explorer. If you check out the Hero forum over at xda-developers you can probably find the rosie you want, my vote is to stay rooted and try out both ROMs, then pick the one that works for you, I don't really think that there should be much of a speed difference.

 

I would stay rooted. I am currently using Fresh 2.1.1 and love it. It opens up a BUNCH of free memory. If there are any Sprint stock .apks that you want there are access to them if need be. I still use the Sprint TV and Sprint Navigation. I had to add these after the fact since Fresh did not include them.

 

I'm in the same boat. I am considering installing the 2.1 leak that Damage posted that is basicaly the 2.1, that retains root. I would assume one could then remove any Sprint apps you want.

From Damageless at xda:

damageless

Alright, so this has basically no optimizations or anything. Feel free to use this for whatever. I will have an update tonight for DamageControl based off of this new RUU that was leaked.

DOWNLOAD:
http://dl.damagedroms.com/SprintUpdate2.zip

Because I just flashed this myself, it is largely untested, so I take no responsibility for what this breaks/doesn't have/whatever. This is for those who can't wait but don't want to flash RUU because it will break root and you might not be able to get it back.

 

I had Fresh and lastly DC 2.08.1 which I found very nice. But since I'm getting ready to either give the Hero to my wife or put it on Ebay, I wiped the root and installed the Sprint 2.1 ROM. It is nice and smooth also and every bit as fast as the rooted version with no hickups so far. I'm happy. You do get the bloatware back, but who cares. It runs fine with it. I also recommend MyBackup Pro since Titanium Pro won't work unrooted.