@wannabee: There is no perfect teapot, IME. Find one that you like the look of and that pours well. My personal favourites are the two cast iron "pot belly" tea pots I got a while back. They were expensive, but they work very well indeed. As for something to strain the tea while it steeps? Even though I use a strainer when I make individual cups of tea, it's better not to use a strainer. If you do use one, make sure it is of a sufficient size to allow the water to flow easily around the leaves. The usual "tea ball" strainers are hopeless, IMO.
A lot of people seem to like the Bodum Assam teapots, like this one at
Peet's. I haven't tried one, but I like the concept.
In my cup: Imperial Keemun