Perhaps after getting T2 out, you could make T2.1 that has options (say in gconf... which i cant find the .install for (a working one)) that lets you pick which way of opening you have. It'd be a bit of work but it'd keep everyone happy. Except super lazy people.
Can't wait! ALthough i don't like the 2 panels thing. I'm always on the arrow and I hate the arrow... Wish Diablo5 expanded the hildon bar.

Mitrandir has already done that and it works fine. 12 icons in the status bar. The test build was posted on the Diablo5 thread I think, but if you are not experienced with editing the theme.xml file then I suggest you wait for the stable release. Go have a look, I posted some screenshots, took me forever to find 12 plugins for the shot

*awaiting release canidates*

telescope-applet 0.2 (extras-devel)
This is promised before package with three applets:
* statusbar applet for launcher
* statusbar applet for telescope
* navigator applet for launcher

Looked in that thread, all I saw was you saying you had a a hacked hildon file (im still a linux noob) that expanded it, didn't see your xml post.

There is step by step instruction in that thread thread, explaining how to tweak the existing theme.xml file of Echo theme. But following it you will run a risk of destroying your system

:/ I wanted diablo 5 them :/
anyways, installing rc2 refreshed my hildon interface, locking my second row of icons open forcing a complete reboot as I could not access anything, Then, upon reboot, removing my switcher menu so I can install your package of 3, hildon crashed and I had to reboot.
Update: Okay, your package only puts 1 icon in the status bar, however, it matches exactly what diablo5 put so now I have two, may want to update package to fix that automagically.
The new menu is... well it's nice, but make the side arrows bigger. I can't tap them easily.
Also, on telescope itself, the background when in portrait mode does not... tile? the background. Like it used to, I think.
It's a bit laggy for a menu but it's better than the original. However, if you could have tabs for each category say at the top, that'd be great. I have to tap 3 times to get an app in extras and 4 for utilities.

You can delet unused applet /usr/share/applications/ and go to statusbar dir.

By the way, a small demo of telescope launcher bar which makes reaching any tab easier. There will be no tab's name in the top and < > buttons on the sides of the screen anymore because of the bar (I forgot to remove it from demo, sorry).

That demo shows exactly what I had in mind. My right side of my touch screen (on screen finger keyboard, arouhd O) is almost dead. Might have to resend back for a new one from my 3 year warranty.

I like it and must have it!. =). will the buttons at the bottom be big enough to be finger friendly? Also, is it possible to but some kind of task manager, kind of like load applet in the new launcher, or in the telescope function,?