What exactly does this option do? How is it different from instructing iTunes not to start syncing when you plug the iPhone in? If this option is selected, does this mean that no app data are backed up?

I had been suffering through the phone lock-ups and forced restores on what seemed to be every two days. The restore always took at least 2 hours and sometimes as long as 4 hours. Needless to say it was very frustrating to the point I feared doing a sync with the phone. Yes, I had turned off the auto updates and syncing but that didn’t stop any of the problems because I still wanted to sync new apps and music. I did notice that if something happened on the phone, such as an incoming call or text messege during the sync, the chance of it becomeing bricked was drastically increased. For the past 3 weeks I have be placing my phone into ‘airplane mode’ before doing a sync. Since doing this new procedure I have not had a single lock-up. It is annoying that my phone is basically disabled during this time but the sync usually takes less then 10 minutes. Maybe it’s not that the phone only does one process at a time but that it can only handle one process at a time.
Greg’s comment about user options in itunes is right on the mark. I would like to see check boxes on the sync screen that allows me to choose what will be synced. Music, Video, Podcasts, Apps, Backup, etc. I don’t make enough changes on my phone to warrent a backup every time I connect the phone to my computer. Heck, sometimes I’ll sync the phone 2 or 3 times a day and I sure don’t need the backup done that often. Once a week is reasonable. Let’s all dream of a better itunes. Or what ever happened to the simple days of drag and drop?

Does anyone else have problems with the iPhone freezing if you get a text while you’re in the middle of a phone call, then when you go to end the call, you can’t close the text notification or end the call or unlock the screen in any way? This has happened to me three or four times and it’s really irritating to have to do a ‘hard reset’ just because a text came through while I was on a call.

Hey Jerad! I have one additional help that may or may not help you. It's an application called Free Memory 1.4. It allows you to free up to 20 MB of memory. It's not always necessary to use, but when your phone is acting slow, try doing this rather than restarting. You'd be surprised of what 20 MB can do. It is 0.99 cents though, so its always wise to read the reviews.

-gacxx