Wow, Mr SKT
From a distance -
You're hitting steep hills
You're getting up 'em
You're getting up 'em better each time you go back (Jack)
Oh, and then there's a whole lot about gear ratios.
I'd say, congrats about the climbing, congrats about the increasing fitness and cardio effects, and forget about the gear kit. (My second best bike has a triple with a twiddle gear that I hardly ever use, my best one has a compact double, and honestly I love the one I'm on and can't really care or notice about the difference)
I hope this doesn't sound dismissive of your interest in alternative kit - I just mean to say that your regular attack on hillls is the main thing. Keep on keeping on, yip yip Yowzah