I'm in a similar situation, not getting back into RC as I've never really been out, but I am looking at replacing my 10 year old KO Esprit 2. So I'm trying to work out whether the mid range stuff is worth going with, or to spend more on the latest 2.4GHz stuff. Really for me this means comparing the Futaba 3GR 2.4 and the latest KO Esprit 3 2.4. Spektrums seem good, but they only do wheel radios

I've tried and failed to convert, so I'd think carefully before going that way if you're used to sticks.
I was able to borrow a friends 2.4 3GR last week for a club meeting. It was actually superb. I hadn't given much thought to latency, but I instantly noticed the faster response vs my original Esprit 2, so I now know I want a quick radio, not a Spektrum conversion. The 2.4 worked flawlessly on the 3GR while I had it. It's quite a different shape to my KO, but only really took the first heat to get used to it and I managed to win the club meeting which is a decent result for me, so it obviously worked well, with the feel of the response I really didn't want to give it back. I assume most of the modern radios offer better response than my old KO, but it's hard to judge this without trying, really have to go off other peoples opinions.
The only thing I'm unsure about on the 3GR is that it feels like a bit of a step down from my premium KO, the display shows less information and it requires more button pushes to do most things. I like the way the small 2.4 aerial comes out the top, unlike the modules based 2.4 systems.
I would like to stick with KO as my Esprit has given such good service, but I've not had the chance to try the KO 2.4, it is a bit newer and more unknown than Futaba's 2.4 system. I wouldn't like to spend the extra £100+ on the new Esprit to find it felt slower than my mates 3GR or the range was less when playing with bashing vehicles or I break the aerial sticking out the back off. I'd like to hear from anyone gaining experience with the new KO 2.4?
Then theres the Futaba 3VC, but at current prices that is way more expensive than the 3GR, so if I went Futaba I'd probably never justify the cost of that to myself. Of course if Futaba came out with a new dedicated 2.4 radio, like a stick equivalent to their 4pk I would probably spend more.
Sorry kind of wandered onto my own question then

. On the whole I really like the 3GR and I would definitely take one of those in hassle free 2.4GHz over an older FM KO, but try get a hold of both of them, they're quite different and you may love/hate either. I liked the 'hold' of either though.