What ideas do you have for appropriate email sign-offs - i.e. the word or phrase before your name. I don't like Best, or Best regards. I use Cheers, but it is often not appropriate.

Really depends on who the mail is going to.
Just tailor it to suit.
After all you wouldn't put "cheers" on a mail to your Bank Manager ;)

I would, unless I worked at a bank... or was friends with him

For emails to who is really what's important. For emails to friends I don't put anything or even type my name, they know its me!

If it is an informal email to coworkers, friends or family, I usually just use "~E."

If I am writing an email for a request for estimate or something, I will use "Best regards" or something like that.

If I am requesting something, I usually sign off with "Thank you" followed by my name.

For my friends, I either don't sign it with anything, or I sign with my initials.

For people I don't know that well, it's usually my full name.

I've found that "Thank you" works in a number of situations, actually, but I tend to tailor my signature to who the email is going to, just as I would a letter.