As mentioned, a battery simply strapped or fixed to a starter is very convenient. I use an older 2100 3S LiPo(11.1v) attached to my Sullivan starter and it starts everything I need an electric starter for. Some people will use a 3S LiFe battery as they're a bit safer, but the LiPo works fine if you keep it in a safe place and monitor it when charging. I only have to charge it a few times a year though.

Same for an electric fuel pump in a flight box. A small capacity LiPo will run a glow-fuel pump for months.

As for a glow-plug igniter, clips and wires are gone, and replaced with a small ingniter with single battery cell contained inside. I just use a regular D-cell alkaline battery in mine.. a single cell lasts months, or even a few years, and an alkaline cell is 1.5v's and gets that plug hot right now (vs a 1.2v NiCad), and that's one less thing I have to fiddle with charging.

So yeah, the power-panel is basically obsolete, and everything is cordless and light. Gone is the 12v/7ah heavy hobby battery. The heaviest thing in a flight box now is a full gallon of fuel, and tools, and all you take to the flight line is your plane, tranny, starter, and igniter. Very compact and easy. At least that's how I've been doing it since making some changes several years ago.

Welcome back to the hobby. Things have changed, but what hasn't is there's still great people, and that feeling of flying is alive and well. When I'm not flying giant gassers, I'm flying four-stroke glow planes, but fly whatever you have and have fun!