I agree, although my connection may be fast (when tethering) if I use the blackberry browser is sucks so bad. 56k dial up would load a site faster than this. I'm not sure if it is .109 or what. If I use Bolt or tether the device I pull around 950kbps and everything is great. Try loading crackberry.com on the blackberry browser, only took 4.2 minutes. my local craigslist page (no images) only takes about 2 minutes. This has been the case since I've had the device. I really wish I had another option but verizon's touch pro has been stripped to yet another junky device as well.
I have had similar problems and though Bolt worked quick for me I just didn't like it. I may have found out what caused it, at least with me.
Try going to Options|Mobile Network|Network Technology and see what it says. When mine is on Global the BlackBerry browser won't even load a page. Change it to 1XEV and its like greased lightning comparatively.
For what its worth I'm running .109 as well.
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com