We like the Press because it's a bit more functional than the BP - you are standing using your entire body, instead of laying on a bench. But of course both are very useful to getting strong. You certainly don't need to do a Press with a layback. It's not for everyone, so I wouldn't worry about that. As you note the Press is very hard to progress and the older you get, it gets even harder. The Barbell Prescription talks about different ways to program for Masters athletes. Nick D. also had a recent thread forum on building the Press which you can read HERE. The more you train, the harder programming becomes when you have goals, so you might also just be at the point where you need a coach.