Native text app doesn't let you assign individual text alerts?

[Under12Parsecs_of_fame]

...really? I like the style of the native text app. With Chomp, I have to do an additional step to send from the screen keyboard ("done" then "send"). Am I just overlooking something here?

Also, if I'm forced to use Chomp (or a similar app), is there a way to replace the icon along the bottom? The default (permanent?) icons are phone, contacts, messaging, and applications...can that be changed? Otherwise I'm ecstatic over the phone...a quantum leap from my "moment".

Thanks for the help!