dhenry:
there really is no way to replace the recommended three terminal potentiometer with a single two terminal resistor.
A pot is the simplest way to go. But it is extreme to say that there is other alternative. For example, you can pwm through a rc network to create a voltage there, and be able to adjust contrast in software.
In your haste to correct me it appears that you left out a word that reverses the meaning. Either way - read the quoted part again, I didn't say that there is or is not another alternative.
Don