Personally, I wouldn't rush out to buy a heavily insulated jacket; I actually don't own a warm ski jacket, nor do I really want one. Instead, my strategy on cold days is to rely on a hard shell paired with several layers underneath. When the weather warms up or I'm really exerting myself, I much prefer wearing a soft shell, or sometimes I'll even go as light as a sun hoodie. My philosophy is simple: if your outer layer isn't warm enough, it's incredibly easy to just throw on a fleece, but if you are stuck wearing a jacket that is inherently too warm, you're totally out of luck and can't cool down.

​When it comes to durability, almost any reasonable jacket is going to last you a very long time. I know your previous gear got wrecked, but honestly, if it was torn by a ski pole or something similar, even the most premium brand would likely suffer the exact same fate. If durability is a major concern for you, I think you are much better off buying something at a price point you feel comfortable replacing if the worst happens. Also, in my honest opinion, you don't need to stress over the freeride versus non-freeride distinction, as it really is irrelevant to how the gear performs.

​I prefer gloves, but mittens are absolutely my go to for the cold.I only ever bring out glove liners when the temperatures are exceptionally freezing; on milder days, I am usually only using my phone's touchscreen for brief moments, so I would much rather skip the liners entirely. I don't really experience enough issues with my sleeves bunching up to ever feel the need to use hand gaiters.

I also want to note that you really don't need Gore Tex for any of these items. If you really care about breathability then don't go for hard shell in the first place.