I kinda like the brush guard though Edward! I dont think ill be changing the bumper either so might leave that stuff. Wheres good place to find skids? Side steps might go eventually... or whenever i get around to it haha are rock sliders better?
I have philosophical issues with brush guards.
I wouldn't bother with a bull bar unless you were actually going to wheel it. They're very heavy and bulky and you'd have to do some modifications to get the ARB to fit.
I have the OEM steps on my '03 Limited. They're kind of a PITA but not enough to make me remove them. They do protect the paint pretty well, though.
There's a HUGE difference between side steps - like you have - 'nerf bars' - like the gen 1 LS came with and rock skids/sliders.
Side steps offer zero protection except of the paint. They're not structural. They're useful for - obviously - steps.
That's about it.
The -
OEM - 'nerf bar' style bars are actually pretty durable for what they are although they are still not structural. Nor are normal aftermarket 'nerf bars'. They will offer some protection from random stuff kicked up off the road, small sticks and brush and lite brushes small rocks or dirt banks. Normal aftermarket 'nerf bars' are not designed to take an impact from underneath - they will fold right into the rocker panel and/or door. The OEM bars are better that way but have their own issues with stuff underneath catching on the mount cross bars.
Neither side steps, the OEM bars or 'nerf bars' are mounted to the frame. All are mounted to the body.
Rock skids/sliders are in a world of their own. The most important thing about skids is that they are structural. They are designed and mounted in such a way that the skid will support the weight of the vehicle, they can be used as attachment points for straps and jacks and can withstand being hit from the bottom, top and sides and suffer no appreciable damage. Body-on-frame vehicles (like our Montero Sport) have the skids mounted - usually welded - to the frame exactly as a roll cage would be.
There are lots of different designs of skids, but this is the basic criteria they're all built around. Some double as side steps if mounted accordingly, some tuck up way in and almost out of sight and some stuck way out beyond the door line. There's a lot of personal preference as the design is greatly influenced by the environment and usage.
I prefer All-Pro's skids ...
All-Pro Off-Road Trail Armor 90-95 4-RunnerI order them bare (no legs) in DOM with filler plates 60" long, and then have them custom installed with DOM legs, 1/4" 6"x6" backing plates and gussets. Angled up at about 15-18 degrees, and mounted far enough out that the skid will hold the vehicle away from obstacles protecting the doors.
It depends on what you expect. Skids don't usually do much to protect the paint. They're not typically designed to block gravel and crud kicked up off the highway. Even the OEM 'nerf bars' do a better job. On the other hand, the OEM side steps and 'nerf bars' are only slightly better than useless if the point is protecting the lower body from impacts and/or having side attachment points for straps and/or jacks.
Really neither are better or worse than the others. It just depends.
I wheel so I have no real choice in the matter.
Also, I live in CO, home of the drunk, stoned and mentally retarded socker-mom and I get a lot of enjoyment out of watching them total their $50K Audi SUVs on my skids.
They really are worth the money just for that.
Edward
That's about it. 
