I've been running Threatfire ever since one of you guru's recommended it for anyone running AVG over a year ago.
Since install it has caught 3 or 4 infections, stopped the process, told me about it. Then deleted and killed it before it could do any damage. In short, it catches it early, before it can disable your AV protection.
One time 3 seconds after I closed Threatfire, AVG came up and said HEY you have a virus but by the time it had finished scanning it couldn't find the file. Because it was already deleted and gone.
I do get a warning now and then, usually when I'm installing new software. Normally that the program is changing registry etc. I did upgrade to AVG8 and after 2 weeks of battling with it over a false positive ended up dumping it.
Just running Threatfire now, although I have used the online housecall scan just to make sure I'm still clean.
Was thinking I might end up taking a look at Avast, but haven't done it yet. Just haven't felt the need.
My opinion, lose the firewall, get Threatfire. Put your AV on the back burner.