Here's another solid vote for Elixir's with Polyweb. They don't last twice as long as other strings...they last four or five times as long, and they stay fresh-souding. Do the math on that and see which set is the better deal for the money...
I use nothing but Elixirs now, and I love 'em!
You might also consider getting a set of fingerpicks, if you can't grow tough fingernails and keep them. I'll talk to Bob tonight at song circle in Orillia, and get his advice on which ones are good. I've seen him use them, and he's the cleanest fingerpicker I know, with the possible exception of Rick Fielding.
That Martin I saw was an HD-28 (Herringbone), and it was the best-sounding guitar I have ever heard under Cdn $5,000...maybe the best, period...downright scary, that guitar was! It just edged out the Larrivee. I was surprised. I'm not usually bowled over by D-28's.