My thumbs cracked from the use of my Pearl...I called it tough love. I don't have any problems now. Just getting used to it I think...Hang it there! lol
This sort of stuff doesn't say much for RIM's quality ability. Actually, it doesn't say anything... their QC blows from one phone to another, even in the same model. That really needs to improve!!!
As others have said, unfortunately this is a common and well-known issue with RIM devices. I have had six different units from RIM (five 8830WEs and one Curve 8330) all on Verizon and none of them have had the same trackball. I dont feel this is necessarily a bad thing, however. I now know that I like my trackball to have a little bit of texture and wiggle to it, rather than being completely smooth and locked into place. It is annoying that you can recieve a handset with a trackball that you dislike, but if you switch it for another one most likely you will get a different feeling trackball.