Just to rebut (all of) your specific points:

Originally Posted By: andyc
- go and search out the apps to install
If you want to look only on the Palm Pre App Store, fine.

Originally Posted By: andyc
- work out whether it worked with my particular phone/os version
Well, there's only one Palm Pre model. Shouldn't be a problem. However, I'm sure that if/when there are additional models, the app store will have that information easily available.

Originally Posted By: andyc
- work out which way to install the particular app
This is more of a failing of the OS than any distribution method.

Originally Posted By: andyc
- go through the whole download/install process when there is a new version
Again, OS problem.

Originally Posted By: andyc
- backup my data for the apps so that I could get it back after an os update
Again, OS problem.

Originally Posted By: andyc
- reinstall it all after an os update
Again, OS problem.

Originally Posted By: andyc
- work out how to uninstall all traces of apps I tried but didn't like (sometimes a very painful task)
Again, OS problem.
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Bitt Faulk