There is a dbus-command you can use to answer the phone, in fact I'm sure there is a script that offers lots of control of phone functions. If you combine the dbus command with shortcutd you can use the camera button to answer the phone.

'slide to answer' seems to have fixed this issue with my wifes n900..

Real solution to ALL N900 problems is to buy an Android Phone with physical keyboard. I did it and never needed to thoroughly read the android forum.
Don´t try to get juice out of a stone.
I will give it a try again when there is a mature version of Maemo o Meego.
Sincerelly do not waste your money and time. Those should be use for fun! Instead reading how to fix what shoud be well done from scratch.
Nokia made to many mistakes with phone paid with our pockets, the glory times of the Nokia 6600 or Nokia N95 is long gone.
Move forward
No hard feelings
Regards

dhcmega

Some of us don't have N900 problems. Me, for example.

Try "Phone Speaker Switcher", it has an option "Long press camera button to answer/end call"

People that have problems with their n900 either have a bad unit, or don't know how to use it. Mostly the latter.

Or they expect it to do something it just doesn't do. I just got hot new features on mine, with Oculo and a clipboard manager...

There's no doubt that this thing can be extended to do even more b*tchin' things, but I'm just talking about a generic PR 1.3 install. The only mod I do after that is alluded to in my signature.

The key to good phone functionality is setting

Turning control -> Display orientation to

Landscape

and unsetting

Turning control -> Launch by turning

There, problem solved. Move on.

Great little Settings Extras. Thanks for pointing this out. I installed it, and it works like a charm. I specifically like the slide right to answer, slide left to disconnect and the push the camera button to switch between speaker on / off or taskmanager vertical / horizontal. (very useful). Bonus long press on camera can answer / disconnect as well.