Thank you, I appreciate your honesty.
I'm using an 8520, as my profile states, and I can open the SMS/MMS window, click the Menu button and go to General Options. In that window, there is the option to "Display Name" Yes/No as well as other options.
Here's a screen shot of my settings. I always see the number and a little pic if I have assigned one to the initial contact. Let us know if this does not change things for you.