type of paints

I have used enamels, lacquer, acrylic lacquer, regular acrylic, and even polyurethane (for a semi-matt clearcoat.  They all handle different.  Best bet when trying a new type is to prime a piece of scrap plastic and do a test.  Do not experiment with a new paint type on a good kit.

In really liking Mr Color.  I use their leveling thinner at about 50:50.  

Model master (I have a pretty big supply), Humbrol. AK Interactive acrylic.

I'm not a fan of Tamiya beyond the basic colors because I don't care for their other colors.

I like Alclad metallics

Tamiya acrylic, Model Master acrylic or enamel ( as long as they last then be done obviously), Testors enamel, Vallejo Model Air, 3-4 brands of craft paints, artist oil and artist acrylic paints and lacquer nail polish. I airbrush many of those (not the arist oil) and brush many as well.

Also I use MM Metalizers, guess I'll have to think on that a bit. And I use Molotow pens.

If I only built military and armor and such I could easily just go with Vallejo. Model Air for airbrushing and Model Color for hand brushing. I have not played with their metallic range but want to. But AK extreme metal is supposed to be very good, I may go that route to replace MM metalizers.

I prime everything anyway with Badger Stynylrez so that's a non issue to me.

Mainly Tamiya,Modelmaster,Vallejo Model Color,a little Lifecolor,and Gunze

It is sad to see MM paints discontinued, sort of reminds me of how I felt when GM dropped Pontiac and Odsmobile from their lines. At one time Testors was the high standard of the hobby and has let it go, or better said, the new owners have let it go away. So yes it's time to regroup.

I haven't yet bought a tin of Humbrol, but I understand that it's still very much available; either Sprue Brothers or Scale Hobbyist stock it, or you can order from Hannants in the UK. In acrylics, Tamiya has led the field for a long time, and is pretty commonly available. It's a solvent based acrylic, so you thin with their own X-20 or you can use othe lacquer based thinners or isopropyl alchohol. It sprays very well, and brushes OK with Tamiya Retarder. I like Tamiya overall, but am frustrated with their lack of specific colors (RLM, US Federal Standard, etc.) finding that it can take a lot of mixing to get a good match. Since I have to order my paints online in any case, I'm going to branch out and try TruColor, AK's Interactive and Real Color lines, and GSI brands.

I don't mind the prep and prime phases, I do that no matter what final paint coating I'm using - it helps point out flaws prior to finish work and makes for a better result overall.

There are other solvent based acrylics out there and then there are "true" acrylics that are water based.  Hopefully other forum members will come in with their experiences.