1. Agreed that a good sounding recording space is critical and should be done first. It's not just important for
good recording but also for
critical listening.
2. Then I want good (not necessarily expensive) converters for the same reasons mentioned above.
3. I also want good monitors (which I think you have).
1, 2, 3 above set the foundation for making critical mixing decisions, critical recording decisions, critical mic and mic preamp purchase decisions, etc.
I also like to have a good clean two channel mic preamp. I like colored preamps as well, but clean preamps are generally less expensive and more versatile IMO, and I can add color with mics.
All that said, mics are the most sexy...
...but they're even more sexy when plugged into a good recording chain and listened to through a good monitoring chain in a good sounding room.