When the you pick up the phone to make a call, you have to use 2 hands to unlock it and then dial. If the phone portrait screen was rotated 180 degrees, the the unlock button would be at the top of the phone and you could unlock and dial with the same hand.

Can someone write a mod do do this?

No, you can do it this way. Pick up the phone, press the power button with the thumb. Then slide the dot to unlock(again with the thumb or any other finger). Press power button again, and then pick phone. Voilá! The Phone application is open.

in a way id like to not have to push power button to show "lock slider" screen...

or always show it with brightness at minimum, and when you touch screen or press button, brightness goes to max........?

I suppose that could would, but it's still an extra button press.
It should have been 180 degrees from the start, or the unlock key should have been on the other side

The light sensor always calibrates the screen brightness, but with a little delay.

If you keep your device in your pocket, or in a darker place, it is normal that the screen brightness will increase by time.

keep in mind that some of us have a number lock on the phone to prevent theft.
i always have to type with both hands on the screen.
any way to change the unlock screen to portrait?