We were able to go up in the cable car when we were there this year. As you know, you can still see the Roman "ramp" built up to the fortress, which took three years to construct. It's large, and one can see easily how a self-contained city could be sustained there. Water had to be brought up on the backs of donkeys.
I have heard that there was a water system built into Masada. Water cisterns two-thirds of the way up the cliff drain the nearby wadis by an elaborate water system, which explains how the rebels managed to have enough water for such a long time.
When we were there my son wanted to try the "goat trail". Glad we did not, still managed to get mild heatstroke and of course, there is no such thing as a "refreshing" dip in the Dead Sea. We did stay at the kibbutz at Ein Gedi, wonderful pool and wonderful vegetarian food and managed to bump into another person I knew.
I have been reading a semi-fictionalized book about the life of Herod and how he fled to Masada with Mariamne and her family during a revolt in Jerusalem.
Did you see the Herodian mosaic set in the floor of his palace? Is it still virtually intact?