First off, welcome back, T_M!
ParagonWiki has a good section on inventions and sets. I would recommend heaading there and reading up on Inventions.
And yes, you can still perma-rage.
Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"I was just the one with the most unsolicited sombrero." - Traegus
Depends on what you want to do.
If you want to "frankenslot" [nearly as cheap as SO's, way more efficient] you're probably best off with Capt. Canadian's guide ( here ).
My guide in sig is old and creaky but covers much the same territory.
If you want help with a level 50 money-is-no-object crazy high powered build, you should probably go to the specific boards.
I keep thinking of putting together a three-level guide. Cheap, "medium" and crazy expensive. Then I keep not doing it. I have a medium example, of all places, here.
Mini-guides: Force Field Defenders, Blasters, Market Self-Defense, Frankenslotting.
So you think you're a hero, huh.
@Boltcutter in game.
Can anyone recommend a good IO guide to someone who last played about a year and a half ago?
(sidenote: can I still perma-rage super strength?)