Liquid Yeast.  Truly, the most significant improvement to my beers came from switching to a large culture of liquid yeast.

I brewed my first 100% extract batch the summer after I graduated college.  I brewed all extract batches for about a year-and-a-half, then I switched to mostly all-grain brewing.  I still brew the occasional extract batch.  I used to brew 6 or 7 batches a year, then I had a kid.  He has a rightful claim on my free-time, so I’m down to maybe 2 batches a year now.  I miss brewing more often, but spending time with my son is what matters most at this point in our lives.

Way too many brewers get caught up in fancy equipment and processes.  I have a very simple set-up (I mash in a picnic cooler) and make great beers.  I think the true key to making brewing a satisfying hobby is to keep your involvement to a level that’s right for you.  If you just want to crank out the occasional extract batch, that’s great!  If you enjoy the challenges of making a homemade RIMS, that’s great, too!  Don’t think that all the fancy hardware will make your brew-day more fun.