Try out some of the great skins out there. Like the Tivo MXM skin, the architect, and some of flex's skins come into mind right now.
My tweaker steps for conversion was like this.
Run MXM as an app through EvoX
Install cool looking skins for MXM
Play around with mxm.xml file to config it the way I wanted it including autolaunches and network settings
Play around with menu.xml file to get my menu just the way i liked it.
Play with preview videos and thumbnails
Test FTP speeds and settings
Convert to mxm as default dash.
But keep in mind most of these "manual" steps to edit xmls will soon be handled by the new UI in the works by BenJeremy.