Hi Brian,
When I got started, I collected a couple of old model vaquero's in 45lc. I went threw the same questions, but then . I just went out and shot. Mine were low and to the left, and needed two strong men to pull the trigger, but I had fun with them. after about a year of shooting, I figured out exactly what I wanted to have done to mine. As you get into the sport more, and truly have some extra disposable income, chat with the Pardners at your local shoots. They might be able to tell you what they did to theirs, let you check theirs out, etc. and tell you who in the community can work on them.
I live in Houston, and found a smith close to where I work, I paid about 130 apiece to have mine tunes, trigger work, free spin paw, springs replaced, cylenters reamed, and sights adjusted to my loads. Dont know a lot about the new vaquero's, but I understand ruger took care of a lot from the old model.
Pappy