"One along the line of ...say ... convert to V-brakes..." I do not see any reason why, after 17 years' service, you would feel a need to replace your brakes with another kind. The ones you have are time-proven by you and countless others.
My recommendation would be to lose the link wire (which I find difficult to adjust) and go with a straddle cable/carrier system. I especially like the Problem Solvers Wide Cable Carrier
http://problemsolversbike.com/produc..._cable_carrier
and the DIA-COMPE E-Z-R Braided Straddle Cable. The cable is 2mm diameter which is significantly thicker than most, and it has a nice little handle to ease removing it from the hooked end of the brake.