In answer to my own question, the ZTE Blade (available as the Orange San Francisco in the UK) looks like an excellent bet. Decent hardware, free to unlock, eas

In answer to my own question, the ZTE Blade (available as the Orange San Francisco in the UK) looks like an excellent bet. Decent hardware, free to unlock, easy to root, and only £100. Comes with 2.1 or (not in the UK) 2.2 but is supported by CyanogenMod for 2.3.