You guys need to remember the Eris is a low-end device, or an entry-level device. It's like the Corolla to Android, whereas the Droid Xs and 2s and EVOs are your supercars of choice. Their capabilities are limited by hardware, which is not top-notch to begin with.
MY suggestion for your next phone, if you care about staying up to date with the latest OS and not having to worry if your carrier will leave you hanging after a six month relationship, you go and get a stock Android phone that is also the flagship of the carrier. The Devour is not the D1, D2, or DX. Yet the latter three have been supported for almost a year (in terms of OS) or will be supported for that long (the ones that just came out). Look at the G1. Look at the N1. The G1 runs Froyo (rooted) and is about to be two years old now. A year older than the Eris and Hero.
So, you really do get what you paid for. Some of us that got it recently paid nothing, or close to it. Others paid $50 with rebates and whatnot. Getting the $200 Droid (at release) may not seem reasonable to some, but then those people should not expect the best of the best in updates and performance. It's like buying that Corolla and then expecting the same performance as an M5.
Paying more does not always mean you're getting the best, though. So you may need to do some research prior to buying their next phone.