I’ve done several things to my bike to make riding steeper descents less likely to end in failure.
Dropper seatpost, greater travel fork ( taller front end , added maybe 12mm to ‘ front centre’) which isn’t set up to blow through easily, slightly shorter stem, better tyres, run tubeless and at fairly low pressure for grip.
Of course, I still need the thing to be rideable for all the thousands of mile, where it’s a climb, or nowt remotely techy !
BUT… I don’t think any of these things have made a blind bit of difference to confidence in myself. Some days I find, usually challenging downs easier than on other occasions.
There are a few ‘ bits’ on our local stuff, which still allude me, although many others which I’ve successfully dealt with in the last couple of years , of which I was scared before.
Most of those were dealt with by ‘ sessioning’ them. That’s what does wonders for confidence. Success,
I also think levels of confidence are linked to many variables like, weather, trail conditions, extent of hangover, if you aren’t on your own, the folk you ride with etc.