Yup, if you already know the number you want to call and use it frequently you could create a shortcut for it and replace $Number with the number you need to call thus skipping the dialing pad altogether.

If you want to use the "ancient way" :P then I can only think of unlocking and start writing numbers straight away. Meaning the blue keyboard button along with a number key when you are on the desktop. Somehow can't get that to work :S Could be a CSSU issue not sure. If you don't have CSSU go ahead and try it out. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.