Quick questions about the Desire's automatic backup thingy

[Guest Loccy]

I assume it does messages, general settings, etc - I'm also assuming it doesn't do apps or homescreen icons and widgets layout?

If not, can anyone suggest a decent backup that'll restore a newly flashed phone's configuration to as close as is possible to the previous ROM's config? What I really want is to be able to backup before flashing, flash rooted ROM, then boot up, restore, and have all my apps, messages, settings and homescreen layout back. But I realise that might not actually be possible.

I always used to through the pain barrier and do a full reconfig on my old Magic, but I've installed so many apps on the Desire and really like the way it's set up, and the thought of having to redo it is pretty soul destroying.