My bro and I used to do tourneys and everything. We quit about 1.5 years ago and sold all our super rares for $350.

(guess where my half of the cash went

) He got back in a bit and we keep a few decks around, he gets updated stuff trading with warhammer pals. I haven't kept up tons with all the new ban lists, but basically, it's almost balanced now. Anything that was ridiculous (change of heart, dark hole, etc.) is gone. The only "uber" card that's legal (by proper standards) is Monster Reborn, pretty much anything that has a powerful single effect or decent mass effect is, in effect(sorry, had too) gone, unless it's gimmick related. Which brings me to my next point.
Gimmicks work now. That's all that works. Ancient Gear, Dark, crystal beast, whatever, they all are more viable than ever. The days of the "toss one of everything that gives you advantage" decks are over. I can win 65% of the time at shops and stuff with a Battery Man deck now. Granted, I haven't done tournament caliber for a while, so I don't know how that is, but if you're going to do "legit" playing, you don't need to get all the $10+ stuff anymore. Now if you're playing free for all without the ban list, then it's the same old "toss one of everything that gives you advantage in a pile and call it a deck".
And yes, the shows always sucked terribly, but this is awesome.
http://www.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/ATTENTION DUELISTS!