I've been using Ripple Lock (free) from the app market. It has a "Honeycomb style" unlocker. It also allows you to set the apps you can launch to, (like go directly to the internet, or to the camera, or to text messages, etc).
It allows you to pull down the notification bar while the phone is still locked, and it allows you to wake the phone up with the volume button.
It also displays your carrier, the date/time, and your battery level/status. Pretty nice, imo.