OK -- I took the bait and got the phone rooted using the procedure listed above. However, I need su to get an app to work the way I want to.
XDA says that I have to flash the su.apk to get SuperUser status. Not sure how to do that. I realize that I'm about the millionth person to ask, but the XDA forum participants basically tell you to search how, and searching the XDA forums turns up next to nothing of use.
Please indulge someone new to rooting and flashing ROMs and let me in on the secret (although I'm a technical person, slow step-by-step for-dummies directions are probably best). All I want is a rooted Eris with su access.
Thx, folks...