I filled a bug about a very similar problem. They are implementing at the moment a setting for this: Bug 4300

Perhaps if there is no possibility in the near future to switch the view at the N900 we should be able to change this setting at the terminal to set our prefered style.

On the other side... we could use the volume/zoom Buttons at the task switcher to change the view. (like zooming at the image viewer) - perhaps the more handy solution compared to a crappy multitouch gestue.

Who will fill the Bug?