[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] Ticklefish:
Right, let's have a look at this. To put the carrier label at the bottom of the notification screen, I'd change status_bar_tracking.xml to this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.phone.TrackingView android:orientation="vertical" android:paddingLeft="0.0px" android:paddingRight="0.0px" android:paddingBottom="0.0px" android:focusable="true" android:visibility="gone" android:descendantFocusability="afterDescendants"
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<FrameLayout android:background="@drawable/notification_tracking_bg" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:layout_weight="1.0">
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.CarrierLabel android:textAppearance="?android:textAppearanceLarge" android:textColor="#ff0287a8" android:layout_gravity="bottom" android:gravity="center" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
</FrameLayout>
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.phone.CloseDragHandle android:orientation="vertical" android:id="@id/close" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content">
<ImageView android:layout_gravity="bottom" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:src="@drawable/status_bar_close_on" android:scaleType="fitXY" />
</com.android.systemui.statusbar.phone.CloseDragHandle>
</com.android.systemui.statusbar.phone.TrackingView>

This will put the carrier label at the bottom but that circle will still be there underneath. I've got the Xperia Mini Pro and had FC's when I tried to remove the ImageView. So instead, load up status_bar_close_on.9.png in an image editor and change it to a 1 pixel by 1 pixel transparent image. Then rename it to status_bar_close_on.png

Of course, you'll still have the carrier label to the left of the clear button so you need to edit status_bar_expanded.xml as well.

I should have asked you to share your status_bar.xml as well, to be sure I've got the code for the date correct, so this is a bit of a guess. But you'll need to change it to something like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.ExpandedView android:orientation="vertical" android:focusable="true" android:descendantFocusability="afterDescendants"
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<LinearLayout android:orientation="horizontal" android:background="@drawable/title_bar_portrait" android:paddingTop="3.0dip" android:paddingRight="3.0dip" android:paddingBottom="5.0dip" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content">
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.policy.DateView android:id="@id/date" android:textAppearance="?android:textAppearanceLarge" android:textColor="#ff0287a8" android:layout_gravity="center_vertical" android:paddingLeft="4.0dip" android:paddingBottom="1.0dip" android:layout_width="0.0dip" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:layout_marginLeft="5.0dip" android:layout_marginTop="1.0dip" android:layout_weight="1.0" />
<TextView android:textSize="1.0px" android:textColor="#ff0287a8" android:layout_gravity="center_vertical" android:id="@id/clear_all_button" android:background="@drawable/btn_default_small" android:paddingLeft="15.0dip" android:paddingRight="15.0dip" android:layout_width="wrap_content" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:layout_marginTop="4.0dip" android:layout_marginBottom="1.0dip" android:text="@string/status_bar_clear_all_button" />
</LinearLayout>
<FrameLayout android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:layout_weight="1.0">
<ScrollView android:id="@id/scroll" android:fadingEdge="none" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="fill_parent" android:overScrollMode="ifContentScrolls">
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.NotificationLinearLayout android:orientation="vertical" android:id="@id/notificationLinearLayout" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content">
<TextView android:textAppearance="@style/TextAppearance.StatusBar.Title" android:textColor="#ffffffff" android:id="@id/noNotificationsTitle" android:background="@drawable/shade_header_background" android:paddingLeft="5.0dip" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:text="@string/status_bar_no_notifications_title" />
<TextView android:textAppearance="@style/TextAppearance.StatusBar.Title" android:textColor="#ffffffff" android:id="@id/ongoingTitle" android:background="@drawable/shade_header_background" android:paddingLeft="5.0dip" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:text="@string/status_bar_ongoing_events_title" />
<LinearLayout android:orientation="vertical" android:id="@id/ongoingItems" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
<TextView android:textAppearance="@style/TextAppearance.StatusBar.Title" android:textColor="#ffffffff" android:id="@id/latestTitle" android:background="@drawable/shade_header_background" android:paddingLeft="5.0dip" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" android:text="@string/status_bar_latest_events_title" />
<LinearLayout android:orientation="vertical" android:id="@id/latestItems" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
</com.android.systemui.statusbar.NotificationLinearLayout>
</ScrollView>
<ImageView android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="fill_parent" android:src="@drawable/title_bar_shadow" android:scaleType="fitXY" />
</FrameLayout>
</com.android.systemui.statusbar.ExpandedView>

You might need to change the DateView code to match what's in your current status_bar.xml but otherwise this is about it. You'll also need to remove the DateView line from status_bar.xml as well, otherwise the date will still appear in the top right.

Give it a try, see what happens and change it about to match your requirements.

Hope this helps!