I'm always on scratchbox compiling away new apps to install on my N800.
Must say the only drawback for me is the whole hildonizing that needs to be done to the applications after you find one that compiles and work.

I look past having to hildon the apps I compile, because I don't know how to go about doing it. Tried, but fail everytime I do.

waiting on ubuntu to drop the embedded OS.
Hopefully I can install it on MMC.

the device is a developers best friend, well close to being it.
As for regular users, if you spend some time on here, maemo.org, and the irc channel. You should have no problems, finding and installing descent hildonized applications.