Is there anyway to move applications from the way they've been pre-arranged on the homescreen? I'd like to put the lock keyboard icon, for example, up towards the top so that i don't always have to scroll down to the end to get to it.

Depends on the theme. Highlight the icon you want to move. Then push alt + click trackwheel and you will get the available options.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

Also why don't u use some of the keyboard shortcuts? For example press "k" for lock vs locating the lock icon everytime.