dusty, there are probably a bunch of guys that could write a book to respond to your thread. Are you thinking about any type of gear in particular you want advice on? It can get kind of endless, but I'd love to answer any specifics you're looking at.
The one general piece of advice I can give rides on what Robby mentioned and plays on the fact that it sounds like you have packed in years past. Don't discount some of the new, lighter gear out there! I use a bunch of cordura saddles and they are just as safe, reliable, and comfortable. They may not be as good as a $3,000 custom saddle, but I'd rather see them roll down the hill. Not sure on durability yet, but a lot of times with tack average durability can be a lifetime. They are a lot lighter, which is nice. I also continue to integrate in some composite (almost like a super sturdy fiberglass) sawbucks. Same thing goes, light weight and accomplish the mission. I actually think they are more durable than wood saw bucks. My one caveat is that I still use leather latigos and leather on other "break essential" tack. Some of the synthetic strapping is so sturdy it can be a problem in big wrecks.
The modern hard panniers and newer iron cloth panniers should also not be overlooked. Contrary to what a traditionalist will tell you, this stuff is now up to speed! If I was packing the same gear all the time, I would run 70% hard panniers and 30% soft panniers, and wouldn't manty a load if my life depended on it. packing blasphemy! Huge improvements on camp organization with more hard panniers.
On the camp gear end, packers have been the huge benefactors of this ultralight movement over the past decade. Gear that use to be the lightest and therefore most expensive, is now considered midteir and is cheap. Not to mention huge engineering improvements on the durability end. Cast iron and other heavy materials were the only alternative. The areas of most improvement are cook stoves, cots, camp tables, cookware, utensils, tools (axes, saws, etc...), showers (yeah, I said it) and lanterns. I wouldn't buy any of these items out of an old outfitting rig. I'd go straight to cabelas camping section.
What's the same? The people at Davis tent are still the best around and a wall tent is the best for longterm exposure. A lash rope is still a lash rope, a heavy wood burning stove is still the best when it gets shitty, and a mule still smells a whole hell of a lot better than a llama.