Hey folks. So I finally nailed down the *228 fix, and it will hopefully be showing up in the next build (that's going to be up to the reviewers, etc). I managed to get it so that the dialpad shows up in the first place and stays around if the screen shuts off during the update process for any reason.
I have not solved the minor issue of the screen telling you the programming was not successful when it actually was. I believe that's a Samsung modem software issue, so there's nothing I can do about it in the ROM. The modem is never telling the ROM that it successfully programmed the phone. Without that, the ROM can't just assume. The work-around: listen to what the lady says on the phone instead, and just exit out of the Fail / Retry screen that comes up when the call disconnects.
I realize that not many ppl care about this bug, but I wanted to fix it for a few reasons: *22899 never worked for me, I like to keep my PRL updated on the off chance that it will improve coverage for me at my office, and it should just frikkin work right, dammit, I shouldn't have to fart around with work-arounds!
Anyway .. on to bigger and better things.