Have you visited the recently updated National Map viewer from the USGS.
This greatly enhanced and Highly interactive web service offers users an dramatically different user experience than what you are used to from R1 starting with the floating toolbar (upper left) that provides users with a number of navigation and display options. Additionally, the floating scene selection (topo/base/imagery) puts display options at the users’ fingertips. Some functionality seems to be buried (I’m still looking around), however, it does appear to be a very flexible and interactive service – I’m gonna go search for some data now!
Oh, and the new, handy “Link to this area” option enables users to easily share a scene with others – try this link to Fort Collins, CO. See http://tnm2beta.cr.usgs.gov/viewer/
