Android phones, apps and tablets

If you use the right tools there is virtually no risk of bricking when you root a Desire. Basically because the tools are intelligent enough not to proceed with the flashing if anything is wrong. I'd highly recommend rooting and sticking CyanogenMod7 on it. I was in the same situation as you before: could hardly install any apps and my wi-fi hotspot didn't work.

Cyanogen has fixed my wi-fi hotspot: it now works perfectly. I have better battery life, a better 3G signal, weirdly, the phone is smoother, faster and nicer to use and I've now also got about 16 apps installed with 35Mbs free :)

Are you running Gingerbread?

I'm running what came on it! I want to get rid of half the stuff that was on it but didn't know you could until I started poking around on the internet to find out why it kept telling me there was no space.

I'll try out your first suggestion, but what is Gingerbread? Wait, googled it. Umm...my phone says I'm using Android version 2.2.