Are you talking Perspective? That is found in Edit - Transform - Perspective. Also, there is a Plug-in called Andromeda Perspective Filter v1.1 which can be downloaded.

BTW, I forgot to mention that if you are using the paint brush/pencil tool or history brush tool you can access the brush size windows by right clicking on screen.

Hmmmm .... I have had Photoshop 5, 5.5 and now 6. I like the way it is set up now with the options bar at top. As for brush sizes, I use a stylus and graphics tablet so I have a range of brush sizes at various pressures. Gradients? Nothing to gradients if you know anything about them. I've used gradient editors in several different programs.