I did the same as peterbozeman, to have 1 piece of equipment with more than 1 use. I also do still use nalgenes because I find them to be more durable than a bladder and if they start to freeze I can usually thaw them easier.
I am an extremely active sleeper/sleep ninja and require a lot of sleeping space. For me the best thing I have found are Western Mountaineering semi-rectangular bags, but they are not a budget item unless you can find them preowned.
I second the Gunfighter Kenai chest holster. You always have access to your weapon no matter what clothes or pack you are wearing. It takes a day or so of training to get dialed in. The other good thing about a chest holster is if you take your pack off you Are not separated from your weapon.
I second the Western Mountaineering Sequoia with overfill. With the overfill on a good insulated pad you should be golden. I have slept in mine down to 0 and been perfectly warm.
I have the cooper AT3’s on several of our ranch trucks and they are pretty good tires. They do well in mud, snow, and sharp rock. We get about 20k worth of wear out of a set, but we really put them through their paces.
I would definitely go with a freestanding hilleberg. As mentioned they are pitched with the rain fly already attached and in the rocky terrain you will be in it will be advantageous to have a free standing design.