So like with my bold, I can just hold down the menu button and scroll through running applications. I can't seem to do this on the 8900. I will have to press menu and then choose switch application. Is there a "hotkey" for the 8900 , as there is for the 9000?

Try holding down the ALT key and tap the escape key. That will bring up the window. Continue to hold down the alt key while scrolling left or right. Once you have an application highlighted, release the alt key and you will switch to it.

Bill J

Alternative to the previous post.. In my curve I hold down the BB key and the menu will pop up, then use the trackball to select any of the applications opened.

Same, bb/menu key brings up the a Slide menu with all the apps opened/running.

Problem still exist after a battery pull?

I imagine it depends on the OS verison.
i.e. on the bold the hold menu to switch application only exists in OS's after .240something I think.
I imagine this is the same for the 8900

Yeah I'm almost positive it is, my sister's phone (bold 9000) didn't have that feature until I updated her phone (Edit: to the latest version of 4.6.)

What OS is the curve?
May want to update the OS to the current one.

4.6 is the only OS for bold.
4.6.0.24X and above have the hold menu feature.