Spanish Orange HTC Hero

[Guest jdiez17]

Hello, this is my first post here.

I've been reading android websites for a while, and since my iPhone is actually getting me on my nerves, I am about to buy an Spanish Orange HTC Hero.

First of all, my primary fear is the well-known lag. However, and if I'm not wrong, this lag might go away with the HTC Rom update. But I also read that this update won't apply for branded handsets. So, I thought: Well, I'll install a custom ROM and that's all. But lastly -and this is the reason why I decided to register and ask- I was having a look at a thread where they said it might be harder to flash a custom ROM on a branded handset.

So, I have a few questions which I'd like to be answered.

• Will the official Orange ROM have lag out-of-the-box?
  
• Can I simply download the ROM and Recovery Image, flash it and be up and running?
  

  
  

• If I can't do this, what do I need to do to flash a custom ROM?

  
  

• After I flash the first custom ROM, if I need to get through some hoops, do I need to repeat that steps every time I want to change the ROM?
  
• What are the REAL benefits of installing MoDaCo/CyanogenMod or rooting?
  
• Will the install of a custom ROM throw away the lag?
  
• If I flash any of those customs, do I get Sense UI?
  

So, thanks in advance for the help you might giving me. It will be a pleasure for me to help any of you if I have the possibility.

P.S: Sorry for my bad English... I'm spanish :)