I will try to address the "sweet spot" point. A lot of the manufacturers now make mid-priced rods that are great. The Orvis Recon, Scott Tidal and T&T Zone are all very good. They are slightly slower in action than the high end offerings, which is actually better for some (probably most) people because it requires your timing to be less precise.
For reels, nautilus are great. If you don't want to spend that much, the Orvis Hydros SL is a fantastic value. Line is super important (you don't want a cheap one) but it is really a matter of personal preference. I like the Wulff Bermuda, SA redfish or Airflo Tropical Punch depending on the rod it is being used on.
Since you already like loomis, the advice above about trying an NRX is spot on. The 8wt NRX is awesome, and its currently being closed out at greatly reduced prices. You may have trouble finding one. Some of the newer rods out are lighter weight, but I don't think any cast better.