I believe the biggest advances are in effeciency, vibration, felt recoil and quietness. However some of the older bows were more forgiving set ups to shoot. You can compare a cheap to mid priced bow of today to a top end bow of 10 to 13 years ago and it is a much better machine. You can get the same speeds with 20 or more less pounds of draw weight, without the vibration and recoil. And the strings are much better as well. But then again they all are on the light side, don't have very much ATA and all have some amount of reflex to them. Making them slightly less stable platforms then the bows of years ago.

As far carbon arrows, I don't really believe they offer a broader spine range per say. They are just stiffer is all. Just get a stiffer aluminum and it is about the same thing in my opinion. If anything aluminums are still the better choice if you want to match your spine better. They offer better tuning abilities and options in my opinion. Not to mention closer tolerences for the money. However carbons have a come LONG way and are still a good choice for tough light arrows. There just not perfect or industructable like people believe they are. Sort of like CD's, Sure they sound better and are suposed to last longer. However in reality you have to be just as careful with them as you did records or they will get ruined and not be worth a flip. Actually they are easier to mess up in my opinion. And while I love DVD's, A video tape can take MUCH more abuse and still play well.

And rests, well the drop aways are cool, but I don't see any great advantage with them. I don't shoot any better with them then I do a good prong rest. The only reason you really need them is because of the skinny carbons with vanes. Not to mention most of them set you up with a slight overdraw which is a bit more unforgiving to shoot.

Paul