Hi Mortimer - I am in a very similar situation to yourself, so hopefully can help offer some advice.
Firstly, this forum has been just so useful. After doing some reading around I've decided to opt to collect for Epic Armaggeddon, which seems pretty popular and by all accounts has a fairly active community. Of course, there is nothing to stop you collecting and then using other miniatures for Epic.
There is an Epic Armageddon section on the forum firstly, with some really useful threads (including one for Proxy minis)
http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewforum.php?f=4Here is the main rules link (all online for free!) which I found really useful
http://www.tp.net-armageddon.org/tournament-pack/Miniatures wise - think this could almost be the ideal time to get back into the game again.
You've got the possibility of a three-method approach to collecting.
- Ebay. Although some is crazy expensive there are still enough examples of parents clearing out attic boxes ("box of epic warhammer") that you can get some good deals. I've collected amounts of tanks doing this, and then sold off the infantry because..
- 3rd party producers. Honestly I've been shocked by the standard of the likes of Vanguard, Onslaught miniatures. The infantry are just so detailed, and miles better than the old GW plastics from back in the day. Pretty reasonably priced as well.
- Finally, GW itself is re-releasing a new Adeptus Titanicus version. At the very least we should see new titans. If they give the job of re-writing the rules to the work experience boy and he makes a hash of it it doesn't matter, as you already have this great community supporting and playtesting the Armageddon ruleset.