I don't use plugins, so I can't make it THAT easy for you, but...
I do use a post thumbnail, which I call in sidebars, etc. by itself (without the post), as an easy visual browsing metaphor. Instead of the 1x10 thumb leftbar column I prefer, it's easy enough to make any size thumb page (it could look like a TGP) based on category (ot tags).
Because it's a custom loop, you can point the URL anywhere, so instead of the thumb linking to the post, it links to a larger image (perhaps on a page with a link to the post underneath)
It's a neat idea
