I just recently came back to the game after a 9 month break or so. I had a monk that I had planned on working up as a tactics-based monk and was going to try and get him 3 fighter past lives before coming back to monk. I've got a lot less time to play now and I'm planning on just going back to monk after this first fighter life and need a bit of help to finish it off with a fun build.

I've leveled up to nearly 18 now as a light-based monk with the full line of Passage dragonmarks. This was before Cleave was any good and honestly moving faster without burning an item slot, no-fail ddoors, and 2 teleports a rest makes the game go a lot faster. With the number of feats the build had and the number of useful feats back then it made sense. But I'd like to play with all the fun new toys for that last stretch so here's what I've come up with feat-wise. Keep in mind that I'm building to hit 20 here so this is more of a 'what gets me to cap fastest' than what's going to be the most powerful in EE's.

Toughness
Past Life: Monk
WFocus: Bludgeoning -> WSpec: Bludgeoning -> GWSpec: Bludgeoning
TWF -> iTWF -> gTWF
iCrit: Bludgeoning
PA -> Cleave -> G. Cleave
Stunning Blow/Stunning Fist/Improved Sunder

That's 15 of the 18 feats for the build. If I decide to go Dark (1d6 sneak damage, passive ki regen while sneaking, incorp/invis for 10ki) then I need to spend 1 feat on Dodge as well as burning 5ap's I wouldn't otherwise be spending on pre-req's and 4ap's for the dark path. If I decide to go Light (all the great light buffs which I'm very used to throwing out both solo and in groups, healing curse which I'm very good at using and fits well with my 200%+ healing amp) I don't need to spend any extra feats or ap's if I decide to spend 4ap's on Shintao...unfortunately I'm not sure if Shintao I (Protection from Tainted and Byeshk bypass) would even be worth the 4ap's.

So that's the first question...for running hard content solo and elite in groups (which I do when something interesting is posted...rarely start groups as I'd rather just solo than lead something) which would be better - Light or Dark? I'm leaning Dark but I really like having those light buffs and the healing curse.

My next question is simply what feats to take for the last 3 slots.
Here's the short list:
Dodge (required for Ninja Spy I)
Quick Draw
Least DM of Passage (18 minute expeditious retreat)
Lesser DM of Passage (Ddoor once or twice a rest)
Augment Summoning (in the event I start popping hirelings...normally haven't up to this point though)
Mobility (2% more dodge if I take Ninja Spy)
Precision (don't expect to raid much and not sure how the math works out on this versus Power Attack on raid bosses)
Skill Focus: UMD (my big heals all come from wands/scrolls that I'm UMD'ing...even with 3 item swaps I'm still only in the low to mid-30's)

My initial thought would be to go with Dodge, SF: UMD, and either Mobility or the Least DM of Passage. Even though I can get clickies for Exp. Retreat 5 minutes versus 18 minutes is a big difference. I don't like chugging haste pots just for running from place to place and my gear is a complete mess at the moment so striding items aren't happening. I'd normally not burn a feat for that but when it's a decision between Quick Draw, Mobility, or having basically 100% up-time for Expeditious Retreat I can almost see burning the feat.

Lastly, just some basic gear questions. I've got a holy burst and a shocking burst ToD ring waiting for me. Is there any reason I'd want to wear the level 16 Ring of the Stalker other than against incorp targets? Manslayer is outstanding but those ToD rings are extremely good too. My next question...obviously the rings are taken up with +6 str and +6 wis ToD rings. I have the Shintao necklace that I'll want to use most of the time for the set bonus so that's where my +6 con will normally come from (meaning that my belt slot doesn't normally need to give me +6con/GFL...just need GFL somewhere). I have a crafter but it's just in the mid 90's/high 80's right now so flexible shards are tough to fit in. Is it worth slotting the Spare Hand to help out with my stuns? It makes the gearing even more of a pain than it already is - not really sure where GFL would fit in then short of running some Reaver's Reach for a replacement to the 10%amp/20%amp/haste guard DT I'm wearing right now. And speaking of the robe...would it be worth wearing the level 16 frozen tunic over that DT? I really like the extra amp in that it gets me to 200% when I switch to fire stance - that's a big difference in situations I'm using vampiric stonedust handwraps and even a bigger difference if I stay light monk.