Interesting. My 3G S next to a 3G at full brightness look nearly identical. You can notice a difference but it isn't at all extreme. Heck, I didn't even know there was a difference at all until people started posting it.
Damn Macrumors making me be OCD about my Apple products! First my slanted uMB keys and now this!@😛
Your faulty headphone socket, what is happening exactly?
Mine, when you move the headphone lead side to side (move not pull, tug etc) the volume crackles and some times goes to maximum volume. 😱😱