There is a new Alivio crankset on order along with a new chain and cassette, I stuck with a square taper BB. I could have spent more on parts but given the age of the bike it didn't seem worth getting more expensive bits. Its also my first time doing all the work myself so I consider it a learning experience. If this goes well the coming months might see new derailleurs and possibly brakes too. Next year might see an entire scratch built bike as I don't like what I'm seeing in the lbs, any of them. Actually by way of buying the parts I wanted locally none of the shops were much help, they had either parts that were either bargain bin or way out of my price range, nothing in between. Pricing for fitting them was all over the place, very much "well i can maybe do it for...". One even said they now only work on one brand of bike, so if it isn't a Giant they won't touch it. Asking to have the BB shell faced to accept an external bearing was like asking for something unmentionable, hence still using a square taper. Wish me luck.
