I'm afraid I haven't played a post-08 American standard, but I have owned an 09 MIM standard tele since Sept 09 and played a buddies 10 MIM standard strat many times. The only thing I've needed to do to the tele is change the pickups (and this was more on a whim than out of necessity), and I've got an electrosocket jack mount for when the input cup finally fails. Other than that, it's been fantastic. Great neck (if you like hefty), solid hardware, full-size alpha pots, etc. The only wish I have is that it would be nice if it was a little lighter. IMO, the MIM standards are fully-functional instruments ready-to-go. As you move up the ladder you get little extras that are "nice to have" but not vital (e.g. different pickup choices, perhaps nicer wood, rolled fretboard edges, etc.)
BTW -- my last FENDER tele before this one was a 95 American standard, and my current MIM is head-and-shoulders above that one in almost every respect.