Dolphin is super simple. It has fancy features that you have the OPTION of using, like "gestures", but you in no way need to use them. I use it as just a regular browser on my phone all the time. There's really not much learning to do at all unless you want to do more things with it.
I'm fine with the default browser. I know what you mean it does lag with text input sometimes but for me its not that bad. The thing I have a problem with is the stability of the browser, its not as good as the froyo browser I think.
Still very good though I think, oh as long as you have flash switched off, that thing is deadly to a mobile browser.