I don't suppose you've got my old i550?? I didn't have a problem with the batteries or the screen. I used both the i500 cradle and the i550 cradle...the i550 fits better in the i550 cradle. Since you should have 2 batteries, is there an issue with just charging the batteries in the i550 battery compartment of the cradle, like you're already doing, and switching back and forth?.. this way you don't have to worry about the bad pinout connections.

Silly of me to also suggest on increasing the brightness of the screen...I believe there is a slide control.