There's quite a bit of rubbish on that #943 bug page.. e.g.

'The use case is something like "check mails while waiting for train on platform, train arrives, tuck N800 away quickly". You wouldn't want to press a small button, wait for a menu to pop up, select an entry, confirm, put the stylus away.'

To activate the N800 you don't wait for a menu, you don't select an entry, you don't confirm, you don't use the stylus. You press two buttons: The 'I' (power) button, and the center pad button. Just as you do to turn off/lock keys. The only issue is really two buttons against one button. I have no problems with two buttons, maybe someone could get that 'hold one button for two long seconds' thing implemented, for those who would prefer that.
There's no need to de-activate the wi-fi, for example. Or the gprs. My n800 has been on wi-fi all day, the battery _still_ shows 6 hours/8 days.