Most rebuilt alternators include fresh paint on the housing, new brushes, and a rebuilt regulator. Generally the stator and rotor are reused unless they are in really bad shape. Sometimes you might even be lucky enough to get one with a new regulator. The regulator is generally the main culprit in premature alternator failure.
I recommend trying to find a place locally that specializes in alternators & starters. They often have names like 'So-and-so's Auto Electric'. They will usually have a higher level of QC than chain stores, and can often accomodate special requests like winding for higher amps, specifying all new internal components, etc. Around here (Boston), that runs about $200, which is competitive with the AutoZone's and NAPA's of the world, and even if they don't have a specific alternator in stock, they can rebuild yours within a few hours.
Another option might be Cincy SHO's 150amp alternators (stock is 130amp), which are brand new for $210 and can optionally be ordered powdercoated. If your amps are drawing so much current that they're cooking the regulators on you, that might be sufficient current to solve that problem.
In any case, as others have said, when you do replace the alternator, make sure you fully charge the battery right before installing the new alternator. It might be worth while to take the battery (even though it is relatively new) back to Sears/NTB to have them test it just to make sure it is still holding the proper charge, etc. A bad alternator can **** a brand new battery pretty quickly.
