Texchappy
Tom, you mention 'leveraging' a point of certainty and that's exactly how I feel - uncertain

There's a list of stuff I feel I 'should' make myself...

Bench hooks (already bought from bad axe)
Shooting board (hey, I can buy a plywood one for $130 - ouch)
Marking gauge (though every time I read Schwarz I keep coming back to the tite-mark)
Panel Gauge
Saw Benches (but my two tiny saws aren't up to the task so yet another expense; then do I want low Japanese or traditional english)
mallet (could get a chester plane adjusting for $57 and a Chris Schwarz approve in-fill mallet for $185)
moxon vise
straight edge
winding sticks
square
partridge with optional pear tree

...but am intimidated because I don't feel I have the right tools yet or the skill.

I can see where you could buy your way into this and spend quite a bunch without developing the skill to make these bench accessories etc.

So where do I start?!?!?!