>>From what I've read about transhumanism...It appears to advocate both physical
>>and mental improvement

Yes!

>>From what I can gather, to progress and become better humans we should not only
>>change our physical but also our mental, cultivating and retaining the best qualities of
>>our nature

Absolutly.

>>so that we are kinder, more understanding/compassionate, better able to relate and
>>interact with others etc.

These are whole, huge discussions in themselves. Lets just say there is no universal agreement here.

>>It is within these improved mental capacities therefore that we will be best able to
>>make desicions about the technologies we chose to enhance our bodies with, how
>>they should be distributed within the population and generally avoid the pitfalls such
>>as inequality that are likely to arise.

Yes.

>>If this is the case, then mental advancement should preceed physical in order that
>>it is used properly.

Why? There are a few physical enhancments we're ready for now. The elimination of our suseptability to cancer, an improved immune system, better vision or hearing.

Others, yes. We'll need more intelligence and wisdom to handle responsibly. Immortality for instance, and it can be a two-edged sword. On the one hand, we'll have a whole lot of logistic problems to solve as the elderly popluation keeps getting larger and larger, along with the population as a whole. But imagine for a moment, the kind of long-term thinking, the kind of perspective you might have after living a few centuries. As it stands now, just as we start getting some perspective on ourselves and the world, we have to start coming to grips with the fact that we'll be dead soon.

>>However it seems the possibilities of improving the physical body through technology
>>are more realised than those that will improve our mental attributes.

I'm not sure I agree with this. It seems to me that there is no limit to what can be done when a direct mind/technology link. I have a neice with a cochlear implant. A direct connection between technology and mind.

>>Do we therefore wait until they have the technology to make us all more
>>compassionate loving human beings capable of using the physical technology
>>wisely?

We can't afford to wait. If we don't start acting smater, trying harder and taking more responsibility in solving our problems, we won't survive as a civilization long enough for these technologies to become availible.

>>...should we just all be free to change ourselves in whatever ways we think will make
>>us better?

Of course! I mean, there has to be some agreements, but can you think of anyone else you would trust with these kinds of decisions more than yourself? Politicians?