I'm certainly no expert with regard to string making, but I am a "if it's not broke don't fix it" kind of guy.
I've been building my own strings with D97 for the past 12 or 13 years. Originally I used 12 strands, no loop padding, .025 braided center serving, bows ranging from 50lb to 60lb. Nock fit for GT and CE required a slight bit of sanding with an emery board.
About 3 or 4 years ago, when the "skinny string" posts were rampant, I tried a couple of 6 strand strings for the lower poundage bows and 8 strand for the 55 - 60 pounders. After experimenting with various center servings and shooting the skinny strings for a awhile, I finally settled on 8 strands for everything, loops padded with 4 extra strands and center served with .021 braided, double-served in the nock-tab area.
Nock fit with GT's is perfect without any sanding and durability is excellent. I usually build a new string once a year for the bows I shoot the most, even though they look good and show no signs of wear.
I shoot mostly HH bows around 55# and I shoot almost every day year-round 40 - 60 arrows. I leave the new string on the bow overnight to stretch it when I first make it, but after that I never have to adjust brace height - it just doesn't stretch or creep.
There may be better materials out there, but for me the D97 8 strand is quiet, no stretch, fast and durable, so I'll keep using it.