As it is with 10.5, I have to hit F8 to get to enable spaces.... but when I was using 10.4, I was using Desktop Manager.... which kept a pager on the screen that I could just click through. Can I do something like that with Spaces?
Have the icon in the dock?
Use Hot corners?
Use the Ctrl+arrow keys?
You mean the graphic representation of the virtual desktops?
You can "show Spaces in menu bar", there you can select which space to go to, but they are only identified by number, not by name, which seems to be not possible right now.
You could assign Spaces to a mouse button, like pressing the Wheel or another not primary or secondary used button.
I have set Expose All Windows to my Mouse Wheel, and Spaces to the side buttons of the Mighty Mouse.