My tourer has 26" wheels, but what the heck, I'll jump in and let everyone flame me.

Hub: Shimano XTR or Deore XT. In a 700C wheel, I would probably want 36 spokes. My tourer uses 32 spoke 26 " wheels, but since the 700C rims wouldn't be as stiff I would want a few more spokes. My inclination would be to use cantilever or V-brakes on the back for reduced weight and complexity, but both these hubs are available in disc-compatible and non-disc version, so take your pick. My choice of front brake would be a "V' brake, again for simplicity, light weight and good stopping power.

My tourer has a Schmidt SON generator hub, I like to have lights for bad weather, tunnels and the occasional day when I end up riding after dark for one reason or another. If I were to change to a battery powered lighting system, or a sidewall generator, I would go for XT or XTR front hubs.

Rim: The Velocity Dyad is nice and wide, and the "V" shape is quite strong.

Spokes: I like double butted stainless steel spokes, I think that's the most durable setup out there. I also like the Sapim Polyax nipples, which have a rounded seat that sits better in the spoke hole of the rim. Sapim's 14/15/14 spokes with Polyax nipples woould be my first choice. If the spokes will accept a thicker spoke, Sapim's 13/14/13 double butted spokes might be good for extreme loads or extreme conditions, although I don't expect to need that kind of overkill anytime soon.

Veloplugs are a good lightweight alternative to rim tape. They weigh less and last longer than conventional rim tape, and they take up less space in the rim. This makes changing tires easier, and the extra space means that your tubes have a little more air in them. More air means more cushioning for you and your bike, although I don't think this is going to be too noticeable.

Rim, spoke and hub materials and design have improved quite a bit over the years, and I'm not convinced that 40, 44 and 48 spoke wheels are as necessary as they used to be. I also think that wider tires and better wheelbuilding technique will reduce the need for high spoke count wheels.

I build my own wheels, I grease the spoke threads, check the spoke tension repeatedly with a tensiometer, and stress relieve the spokes repeatedly throughout the building process. I think that careful attention to these details is at least as important as having lots of spokes in a wheel.