I am in love with AOPS. IMO, best pre-college math textbooks I've ever encountered. (I and DC are very 'mathy'.) We've used only 'prealgebra' and 'introduction to counting and probability' textbooks (both excellent) until now, though. AOPS has 'precalculus' textbook and associated course, but unfortunately, no alcumus (online problem engine) for precalculus (yet). Each book has excerpts and short diagnostic pre- and post- tests online; for precalculus, it is here:

http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Store/viewitem.php?item=precalc

So judging from what I've seen of other AOPS books:

a) move at a reasonably good clip, low repetition, low spiraling levels so probably a college text is better than one intended for high school) - YES (though it is technically for pre-college)

b) have MANY applications-types questions, and relatively few of the basic drill variety - I am not sure about 'application-type questions' - you can check the samples online for yourself, but these are not basic drills (though DS gets bored about mid-way the end of chapter problem sets). YMMV. Actually, if you use this, I'd like to know what you think - whether these are drill-or-no-drill problems.

c) ideally, a good older edition which I can get for cheap. I'm looking, in a perfect world, to spend less than $60 on this. - YES: $47 book + $12 solution manual (or $53 if bought together).

d) video tutorials or something like that on an instructional CD, meh-- maybe. A solutions guide or online companion site, probably better. - There is a solutions manual. There are (great - in DC's opinion) video lectures on SOME topics online, though I'm not sure if there are any specifically for precalculus.

(As a side note, books are also available on amazon - may be faster shipping.)