Looking For Right Vista Ultimate 64-bit Vanilla Antivirus (With Frustrations!)

Age old question isn't it.

I was using Webroot but when I changed over to a new laptop with Vista
Ultimate 64-bit (32/64 Combo) Webroot didn't quite have their 64-bits
together and they still don't.

So I tried Symantec's Norton 360 but don't like it (keep it simple) or
Ghost but kept using them for several months. The story with Symantec
can go on and on a lot further then this.

Have got Webroot Security installed now and can't get Online or Local
Backup to work properly and I can't tell/trust what the firewall is
doing--Vista says it isn't protected...then it is.

I've come to face up to a few things...
1. Windows firewall works and it is built into Vista so why not use
it! The router has a basic firewall too.

2. Windows Defender seems robust and as well maintained as Webroot's
or Norton's and it's built into Vista so why not use it for Spam and
Spyware, etc!

3. I introduced myself the other day to Vista's Backup program
(Windows Backup). I don't need online backup of data. I backup to a
second hdd on the laptop and an external hdd image now and that's more
then I've done for a long long time. So I think Windows Backup works
fine for me too.

4. That leave just leaves a plain old robust antivirus program and
there are just too many of them out there. So maybe you can help me
figure out what one might be not only a really good one but also one
that doesn't cut into including another firewall, spam and spyware,
and backing up?

Unless we want to really get into the argument let's exclude Webroot,
Symantec, and McAfee please. But its got to be Vista 64-bit strong!

Heck, this afternoon I couldn't even get logged into my Webroot
account to follow up on my backup difficulties. Yesterday it took 1.5
hours to reach the free phone tech. I'm not paying Webroot $30 to fix
their fubar/snafu just to get fast support.

If you think I'm way off base in my thinking here please help
enlighten me. I feel that these three companies especially always try
bundling and sucking you into more then you really need.

Sure, I could just ignore Webroot's Online and Local Backup problems
except that I discovered and proved that the 61.6 MB of 108 files in
the wrstemp directory in Windows\Temp are Webroot's and they can't be
removed by any means unless you uninstall Webroot Security. I even
used my Vista CD to boot to a Command Line through Repair to delete
the wrstemp directory and had left Webroot Security so it would not
run when I booted Normal. Took a look in the Temp directory and there
were once again the wrstemp and 108 files--though they weren't full of
whatever they normally get.

Thank you for the help.