I prefer the M&Ps. Grip on the M&P is more comfortable for me and I can get a higher hold on the pistol. To find the production date, look at the sticker on the box. Under the SKU is a 4 digit number. First number is the year, last 3 numbers is the day it was produced. My .40 is 2194, so 2012, July 13. My 9 Pro is 0154. I can't see the number on my wife's full size 9mm as she painted the box pink, but its earlier than that.
I haven't really been keeping up with the updates, but I do know S&W changed one of the springs on the sear in the later production runs (sometime in late 2010 I believe) as a few of the 9s and 40s were reportedly having "dead trigger" issues. This made for a noticeably heavier trigger than the earlier models. I also know the striker was updated (used to be black, new one is silver), as some were breaking earlier than expected. There were also some accuracy complaints with the 9mms barrels but I believe it was limited to the 5" Pro Series not the 4.25 barrels.
Both of our 9mm pistols have well over 20,000 rounds through them and I haven't even had to change the recoil spring yet. Terrific pistols, the only issue so far is the slide stop on my wife's pistol broke a couple of months or so ago, (fairly common part breakage from what I've read).
Kanoa at SEC is a Glock guy but also knows a ton about the M&Ps. In fact I think he's been to the armorer's class for both, excellent wealth of knowledge.