I don't have Lion, so i can't say if Apple has moved that option, or where to. Seems like you've found it though. [in Leopard/Snowy the place was 'View' menu --> Show View Options ⌘J']
That's so. In View menu that's what shows up — but it doesn't offer there the option I found under the "gear" in an opened folder window and there's no option of choosing any other "always" view, as you were suggesting.
So I guess that's the only option now available (and cleverly disguised/hidden it is).
I'm going to have to make it a habit of examining those little "gear" drop-down menus (or whatever they're called) whenever they show up; they've provided a ton of additional choices which are extremely worthwhile (eg, the cut-and-paste "gear" which changes any format to straight text with a single click).
