iOS 5.0 brought us some cool new gestures (iPad only) that change the way we use this device. There are still a lot of people who aren’t familiar with them yet or who choose not to use them. To them I say it is time you learn about them and start using them. You will find your iPad experience a lot better and it will take a lot of strain off your home button as well.
The gestures are really quite simple and easy to use. It is all merely a matter of getting in the habbit of using them instead of the home button. Each gesture is done using 4 or 5 fingers. To start, make sure you have multitask gestures turned in in the settings by going to: settings -> general -> multitask gestures. There are three main gestures, to switch between applications you are currently using swipe with 4 or 5 fingers left or right, to go forward or backward. Swipe up to view the multitask bar (and back down to hide it) and the final gesture is to pinch inward while in any app using all 4 or 5 fingers, this will take you to the home screen. Practice using them, they are very helpful and after a time you will grow to love them.