Mountain Biking - What to upgrade?

I own a 2005 Giant AC and feel like upgrading it a bit. Is there anything that really needs an upgrade, or should I save up and replace the fork (as a lot of people find the entire stance line to be terrible)? I mainly use it for trail riding, with some downhill mixed in. As a result of this, I also want to gradually make it lighter to make the climbs a bit easier. Without further ado:

frame 2005 ALUXX SL 6013 Aluminum with Travel Adjust 5.5/6.6”
fork Manitou Stance Blunt with FFD damping150mm
rear shock Manitou MET3L RP (my LBS traded the stock one for it fairly cheap)
headset 1 1/8th Ahead
derailleur Front:Alivio
Rear:SRAM X-7 9 speed
crankset TruVativ Hussefelt ISIS splined 22/32T w/bashguard
derailleurshifters SRAM X-7 18 speed trigger shifters
cassette SRAM 11-34T 9 speed
chain Shimano Deore 9 spd
bottom bracket TruVativ Giga Pipe DHLT ISIS splined
hubs Shimano M475 disc 36H
rims Alex DP20 36H w/eyelets
tyres Fr: Kenda Bluegroove 2.5 Stick-E | Rr: Kenda Nevagal 2.5 Stick-E 5
brakes/levers Hayes Sole hydraulic w/6” rotors
pedals Alloy Platform
handlebar/stem Easton 31.8mm high rise bar/50mm stem
seatpost Easton alloy 30.9
saddle Giant freeride with 8mm rails

The current things on my shopping list are ODI lock on grips and the Cane Creek Ergo Control II bar ends...

Thanks in advance

Do you find the stance terrible?....thats what matters :) Honestly what do you feel is lacking?

headset 1 1/8th Ahead FSA Pig DH steering a Fox Vanilla 130

derailleur Front:Alivio SRAM X Generation

Rear:SRAM X-7 9 speed
crankset TruVativ Hussefelt ISIS splined 22/32T w/bashguard E13 STS Chainguide

derailleurshifters SRAM X-7 18 speed trigger shifters
cassette SRAM 11-34T 9 speed
chain Shimano Deore 9 spd On a SRAM drive bike you've got a Shi*No chain? Tsk Tsk

bottom bracket TruVativ Giga Pipe DHLT ISIS splined Personal preference would dictate the TruVativ Giga Pipe Team DH ISIS splined

hubs Shimano M475 disc 36H Lots of room here

rims Alex DP20 36H w/eyelets and here

tyres Fr: Kenda Bluegroove 2.5 Stick-E | Rr: Kenda Nevagal 2.5 Stick-E 5 Your call

brakes/levers Hayes Sole hydraulic w/6” rotors Could always go 8"

pedals Alloy Platform Step up to some Odyssey South Gates

The current things on my shopping list are ODI lock on grips and the Cane Creek Ergo Control II bar ends...Grips good Bar ends BAD. Bar ends have no place on a riser bar


Thanks in advanceYou're welcome

Well the Stance Blunt isn't very easy to adjust, and I am worried by the claims of how easy it is to bend that happen every once in a while here...

and also, Raiyn...

"derailleurshifters SRAM X-7 18 speed trigger shifters
cassette SRAM 11-34T 9 speed
chain Shimano Deore 9 spd
On a SRAM drive bike you've got a Shi*No chain? Tsk Tsk"

Everything apart from the rear shock is stock as of now, so it isn't really my fault.

You asked. I told:D

Originally Posted by Raiyn
Grips good Bar ends BAD. Bar ends have no place on a riser bar

That's not what PWRDbyTRD and the other guy that posted on my previous topic about the bar ends thought - the pic TRD supplied of his own bike had a riser bar (from what I could see, the angle was a bit odd), and if the other guy's rockhopper was stock, so did it. Neither of them seem unhappy about using bar ends on a riser. Please substantiate your claim.

Originally Posted by Raiyn
Grips good Bar ends BAD. Bar ends have no place on a riser bar

That's not what PWRDbyTRD and the other guy that posted on my previous topic about the bar ends thought - the pic TRD supplied of his own bike had a riser bar (from what I could see, the angle was a bit odd), and if the other guy's rockhopper was stock, so did it. Neither of them seem unhappy about using bar ends on a riser. Please substantiate your claim.
Riser bars aren't designed to cope with the stresses produced by barends it adds to the leverage at the bends of the riser.
This is another reason why carbon riser bars don't reinforce the ends of risers to allow barends to be mounted.
That plus as you noted the angle is way off. If you want bar ends go flat bar especially with the intended use of this bike

And for the luvapete Use this
http://img203.exs.cx/img203/91/arrowtoreplywquote6it.jpg