I had the pearl.. Tried it for two weeks after being a RAZR user for a couple years.
I could not stand trying to text/email on it. I hated the key configuration and it was also hard to read. (Yes, I have 20/20 vision) but I constantly found myself staring at the keys to find the letter I wanted.

-- Here is my opinion..
The Pearl is great if you just want to receive email. But if you want to type and or, surf the web, etc. Forget it.

So I went in and upgraded to the 8800. Yes, it is bigger. But I find typing messages on it a relative ease. I can send and receive with ease and when ever one of my PEARL friends is around, I laugh when I look over at them, typing long messages on that horrible system, squinting eyes and fumbling..

The 8800 gets my vote...
B