I owned one of those. I like the stock pickups but the boost circuit was a waste and mine was also noisy. I would put the original pups back in and change to '50s wiring as stated several times. I have a '17 classic wired this way and it's the best sounding LP I own.
Rolled fret edges give the '17 ... well, the edge. I would also try a Classic. I like the neck better (non-asymmetrical) and prefer the pickups, wiring and weight relief.
I dig your avatar. I would go BG all the way and make sure you get the one with the Texas shaped buckle rash if you're willing to get a quirky guitar. Reasons: Billy is one of my all-time faves. His axes are very light and resonant. It's a cool collectors piece. Not my style, but Billy's...
I just bought a new Classic -- love it. I recognize that tuners are only part of the equation regarding tuning stability, but I find that the Grovers are really solid.
I typically fall for flame maple tops, but this HCSB plain top really won me over -- especially after I plugged it in. Plays and sounds killer. I love the new rolled fretboard/binding edges and the Grover locking tuners. This is such a welcome change from the old 3-knob version with the goofy dB...
My favorite Strat color is Candy Apple Red. The Dakota is a good middle ground between CAR and Fiesta Red, but I think it is a touch too bright. I also like Candy Cola with a Rosewood board.