The advantages of the 529 plans are pretty strong (to me) and that's where I put my kids' college savings too. I also have Education or Coverdell IRAs because I have stronger say over the actual investment (stock or SP500).
As an aside, there's a lot of confusion over the estate and gift tax exemption. Today, it is $11.4 million. So, if you're well under that, you can give money to your kids without a tax worry. Yes, if you give more than $15,000 to one kid in a given year, you have to report the gift and that gift will count towards your lifetime exemption of $11.4 million. But, there are no tax consequences to that gift (as long as your giving remains under the $11.4 million exemption). The only benefit to giving under $15K in a given year is that you don't have to file a form and, as a result, the gift doesn't count toward your lifetime exemption. But, if you will never have $11.4M (I won't), you need not worry about it.