...is there a way to get the dialer to work like most other Android handsets, where you start spelling out a name and it pops up selections from the dial pad? I like the stock dialer, but miss that feature from previous phones.
Download Dialer One (free). It does this and you can set up speed dials as well.
Are there alternatives to Dialer One? I don't like the Dialer One visuals - the HTC Sense dialer and the stock ICS ones are better.