A couple of new advancements since you left, but not sure they are something you want to jump into.
RBA (rebuildable atomizer) are tanks or drippers where you build your own wicks from stainless steel mesh and your own coils from wire. You will need to do some self education and there can be quite a learning curve at first. These can be used on either regulated or unregulated mods and you should use only top notch batteries. You would also need a multimeter or some other means (built-in atomizer meter on an APV) to measure the resistance of the coil you make.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/4454-7-advice-tips-vapors-looking-try-their-first-rba.html
There are also submersable atomizers (Diver, Killer) that can fit in a cartotank in place of a cartomizer; and atomizer tanks (AMP tank) in their first generation of production. They seem to have had mixed results; either people love them or have been disappointed in their performance.
There are much higher quality cartotanks available today. Manufacturers are getting away from polycarbonate tubes and going to pyrex glass which allows the use of even the tank-cracking flavors. IBTanked and Phiniac are popular pyrex cartotanks.
Advancement in clearomizers have been made. Vivi Nova's are popular; a top coiled, top fed clearotank. Kanger specializes in bottom coiled, bottom fed clearotanks with the Evod and ProTank (pyrex).
