Two strawberry questions

As a novice plotholder last year, I created a strawberry bed with about half Cambridge Favourite (mid season) and half Albion (everbearer). As expected, I got a small, roughly similar crop from each variety in their first season, but this year there's been a marked difference: the CFs have given me three weeks (and counting) of fat, juicy, sweet strawberries, but the Albion's fruit have been small, dry and tasteless. Do I need to water them more, or is that a common problem with everbearers? I'm tempted to replace the Albions with an early or late variety.

Second question: I've read that strawberry plants are only really productive for three years or so. If I use runners from older plants to propagate new ones, will those give me another three years of vigour? 

Thanks!

Just to comment on the Albion question. I planted some in spring 2011 and they didnt do much last summer. This year the plants look really small and are producing some friut. They are a fairly tastey but a bit sharp and they are hard in texture. I'm wondering if they should be better but I've no experience of them. My 'florence' are just starting to come ripe now, so I have high hopes (after last years disapointment because of it being so wet - the lovely fruit just rotted before my eyes).

I don't bother with everbearings, but regular strawberries hit their peak at year 3 then go downhill from there. I let mine fruit to year 4 and immediately pull them out, refurbish the bed with manure and other nutrients, then plant new plants or runners I've temporarily grown in another bed.

By totally turning over the bed and feeding it, I've never had any problem with diseases, etc.

And yes, strawberries do need a fair bit of regular watering so the plants and berries get large.