I, also, hated season 7 and the all those who could be called will be called thing.
I don't want to see Buffy be a side character, ever. Like, give her a family, have her be a single, childless badass, whatever but Buffy needs to be front and center. I'd like some of the BTVS writers back (obviously not Joss, but Tim and Marti...)
And I want the characters I used to love back. Like somehow, I wanna see Anya, Cordy, and Willow again. Dru and Darla. Spike and Angel. Giles and Wes. Dawn and Tara. Xander (I am open to a recast here, as I understand the insurance issues plus SMG refuses to be in a room w/ him).
I'm willing to give them a 50/50 split btwn new generation and our Buffy family.