I only run custom ROMs on my phones. People stuck on stock don't know what their missing or what their phones are truly capable of. The carriers gimp their stock ROMs which disable so much functionality.
There's a small learning curve to installing custom ROMs, but if I can figure it out, anybody should be able to.
Is there a site you recommend to make a custom ROM?
I got really po'd at Verizon because they killed several options that should have been available on my phone - like the PIM. They claimed their online junk was better - not so if you don't have connectivity! Admit I was spoiled by my company's BB that I lost after I retired. Not sure I need one of the new gizmo's now, though, but look interesting.