If noise is your only issue, find a method to lay your track to deaden noise - it might be a lot cheaper.
But if you want fixed pilots and more prototypical looking track and switches without the center rail, then think about switching.
As mentioned above bad trackwork - either 2 or 3 rail (or HO) results in derailments - good trackwork results in reliable running. That said, 2 rail requires a little more attention to getting trackwork without kinks or bumps that cause problems. many of these issues are ignored by 3 rail trains with large falnges.
The fixed pilots on locos do make them look so much better. Smaller closer to scale couplers such as Kadee, make the cars look a lot better too.
Finally any control system has to be used, but you have to get the recievers installed into 2 rail locos. I have heard that MTH in particular and possible Lionel do not sell separate loco recievers for their systems, so to get one you have to buy one of their locos. I don't whether this is an urban legend or true. I do know with DCC, you buy any receiver from any mfg and use it with any DCC compliant control system.
Converting locos is much harder than converting rolling stock. If the locos are big favorites, you may want to go that route, but if it is easier to get a 2 rail model of the same loco, it might save you some effort. Diesel models with the older "china block" drives that do not have a removable bottom plate on the gearbox are particularly hard to convert. If the bottom plate is removable, you can switch axles and install pickups. If not you have to pull wheels and gears and then reinstall. Steamers area their own ball of wax with the rods and what not and drivers have to quartered. If you don't have the tools and know how to quarter the drivers - it won't work. New axles should be quartered but you still have to deal with removing and reinstalling all the rods.
