You're so right about tone. My MIM Strat was on 9's when I got it off eBay.
Played good but not great, and I took it to a local Luthier. He put 10-46's on it, reset the trem etc and it spanks and sparkles!!
I have never had a Tele but am always on the lookout for a good one with a decent trem (joke!!) but I can understand what you mean by a 'thin' sound.