I'm currently evaluating Kubuntu as a Windows replacement at home (because I ain't going to Vista!) and experienced this same problem last night. There is no obvious way to set detailed-list view as the default for all new tabs, so this will be great. I agree with Arawak that this needs to be documented better, but not only that, there should be an option for this to set somewhere.
Customising Konqueror seems to be 95% geared towards web browser options and 5% file management options. I prefer Firefox for my browser so I don't care about Konqueror as a web browser - as far as I'm concerned, it's the perfect replacement for people used to Windows Explorer who don't really like the dumbed-down and chunky Dolphin file manager.
I sure hope that Konqueror gets some love, but not too much love that they tinker with it too much in a bad way.