Optimizing Experience of Family Router and Apple Devices

I'm very much a layman, but I've been doing a ton of research the past couple weeks on the following topics for optimizing my Apple World.  I know a lot more about basically what these terms mean and this stuff is, but honestly, the way it all effects each other has me more confused.
Here's the equipment that uses internet and is applicable to my questions. DirecTV Genie OnDemand, Apple Macbook late 2008 Aluminum 5,1 (with latest firmware), Apple Macbook early 2008 Black, Brand New Apple iPad Air, 2x Apple iPhone 5c's. Internet is local ISP in Oklahoma called Wavelinx (I live outside city and it works in my area), they provided us with a Netgear N150 router.
1: I upgraded my Apple 5,1 late 2008 from 2x1GB RAM to 2x2GB RAM.  Results were awesome! But it still trips up on me.  Is upgrading further to 2x4GB (I have latest firmware) advisable and worth it?  When I check my Activity Monitor, I frequently have 8-10 open applications with 100+ Mbps. 
2: I've been downloading torrents and other stuff and maxing out my 160GB SATA HDD.  I'm considering an upgrade to some sort of SDD HD.  Is this worth it?  I'd probably only get about the same size or even downsize in storage because...
3: I'm shopping for a WIRELESS external hard drive.  Considering the Seagate 2TB or the Apple Airport TB.  I will then connect wirelessly and backup all movies and data to this, theoretically keeping my internal HD relatively empty.  Recommend the Apple Airport?  And if I got the Apple Airport...
4: Would this also handle my need for an upgraded router?  My ISP customer service said there have been issues with people using Airports as routers.  But he said once I've got it going should be okay.
5: As far as routers, I learned about 802.11ac, and so I was limiting myself to only those capable routers. Then I learn this morning that my Macbook can't even support this. But there are adapters available.  Is using an adapter with my Macbook late 2008 advisable?  If so any recommendation for an affordable one? And if not, then what is the best router type that makes sense for me to get?
6: FYI, my Macbook works okay most of the time with current internet.  But the phones and the iPad are a pain. I frequently will disconnect them from wifi and use internal because the speed ***** and I'll get 1 or 2 bars.  Would the 802.11ac routers help them but not my Macbook? 
Essentially if you were me, with my exact equipment, what would you do and what's worth upgrading?  The external HD is a must.  But is the extra 4GB Ram worth it? Is the upgraded router worth it?  If so, is it worth an 802.11ac router?  If not then any suggestions?
Please don't advocate any replacemen devices at this point. I'm trying to get improvements and do too many things to go buy a brand new Macbook.  Although the SDD drive is a consideration on my Macbook, because I don't wan tto invest a lot and have the new OS not be available on it.  But if the SDD will make it "lightning fast," then I'd say it's worth it. The early 2008 Macbook is my wife's, and she could care less.  Thus no questions.   If I get new RAM, I"ll install my old in hers but that's about it. 
Thank you very much in advance. I want to become an informed Mac/Apple User and when and if I do, I will pay this knowledge forward.  My specialty is writing and journalism.  So if any of you need some help or advice there, I'd love to return the favor to anyone that takes the time to help me.

I'm new to this forum, and I read the guidelines but didn't have time to read that closely.  Was trying to regurgitate all of this text during my break.
So if I've written this wrong and I seem like an idiot nobody wants to help, or I've broken a "cardinal rule," or code of Mac User Forums, I am sorry. And if someone will just say "hey man, nobody's going to reply to this." Then I'll take more time and repost or break my questions down into sections.
The reason I put it all together, is one thing I'm finding out as I try to educate myself on this stuff. Is how interconnected this all is.  I was about to buy the 802.11ac router last night, not having any clue that my Macbook type may not even support it.  But then also, my Macbook works just okay, I can deal with it.  My main complaints about speed are with the mobile devices.  However, if an adapter for 802.11ac is advisable, I'll by all means get one.
So anyway, I'm trying to make some informed decisions based on the whole picture here.  But if this isn't the way to get a question answered, someone please inform me.  I'll not take it personally.  I'm by no means smart enough to handle IT type stuff, and I desperately need someone that has some knowledge that I only wish I did. 
Thanks.

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