Full bands with upper and lower expander and interlandi headgear for a long long time!

Im going to have to say a fixed twin block. Probably with an expander. Shame I'd never be able to experience it.

Coming back here I recently discovered something called an EVAA appliance, which is like a fixed activator. Thats definitely my new favourite.

I have to agree with headgear of any form, but most preferably combination straps, with the straps a nice obvious colour against the patient's hair colour "so it can be seen easily they are wearing it".
Second choice would be a fixed expander, just because of the sheer awkwardness of having to talk and eat with it and either expand it or have it expanded

Headgear (naturally) seems to be a common theme as the most favorite appliance.  What specific configurations do you prefer and why?  Types of straps, facebows, maybe a reverse-pull facemask, colors, etc.

Definitely the combination (high pull and cervical) variant. A set of colored straps that clash noticeably with the wearer's hair color makes the appliance eye-catching from any angle, so there's no use in turning around to try and hide it. In a perfect world, double headgear, or facebows in both jaws, would be the ideal, both impeding speech and creating a very awkward, uncomfortable, and flashy mouth, but since high pull is just more common, that has to take the cake. I think the favorability of headgear comes from its implied history of embarrassment and its established reputation as a symbol of social ridicule. As for why, I'm certain there's some underlying psychological factor that none of us are particularly eager to discuss. (Probably having to do with some sort of common trauma that resulted in our collective liking for braces involving embarrassment) I think it could significantly damper the fun if one were to get sucked too far down into their own curiosity on the matter, though I'd be lying if I said I myself wasn't curious about it. Who knows? Maybe the answer is more positive than we think. One can only hope.

For me there are three Appliances; Headgear; Tongue Crib and a Facemask.

Probably an expander encased with acrylic.  Same discomfort, extra lisp due to the extra plastic