one thing that may help you with the touch screen - you need to be touching part of the metal surround when you use the the screen.
when you're holding it in your hand you do this automatically, but can be a pain if you have it on a desk or in a car cradle.
make sure that you check the web site to get the latest firmware update - it makes the whole thing more responsive. (keep a copy of any data first - it wipes everything off the phone)
as you've found it takes a little getting used to - but I like the phone