Recently I have noticed this issue more with my 3GS, based on how I hold it when I'm texting at work. Set it down, within 5 seconds full bars again. So yeah I agree I just think we didn't notice it as much. So add a small bumper on there and we get way better reception and 3G speeds than before.

I read an article yesterday that showed 3G speeds were doubled in some tests with the new iPhone 4 on average.