Let me start this off with a statement that I am a reasonable, kind, experienced woodworker/cabinet builder and I have thought hard about replying to Matt's response to my list. I submitted my list in good faith as an example of what was valuable to ME and also as a possible point of reference for anyone not using or aware of my particular "likes".
Many of my philosophies about woodworking and processes around machining wood come fom a different world than making Ukuleles and Guitars. They have been shaped in using large machines, making large cabinets in a large noisy, dusty, dangerous shop. My very small home shop/garage has a few of the best things collected from my 40 years of woodworking. I converted to a few Festool tools (Plunge circular saw, guide rails and table) after a serious neck injury weakend my left arm and hand and prevented me from using a tablesaw and other large, finger eating tools safely. My neck was fixed (partially) and I have retired my large scale woodworking. Some of you may never have heard of Festool. It is a premium German toolmaker, made to be used everyday, made in a democracy, by workers paid a living wage and their tools demand premium prices. So... with that preface here is my response:
Yep Matt...I could but I would need other "things" to make up for it. The MFT
http://www.festoolusa.com/products/mft-multifunction-tables/mft3-multifunction-table-495462.html is my Workbench/Compound sliding miter saw/ Mortiser/Assembly Table/Clamping Jig/etc. and I do a lot more than lutherie. It allows me to fold up when I'm finished and tuck everything away which creates peace and harmony in my home. That is priceless to me.
Some things have a value that is deeper than a price tag. My squared Maple block is on a par with my MFT as far as value to me as a tool and something I pick up or use with almost each step of a project. One cost next to nothing, one cost a lot. I would work harder/longer/differently/use more space/etc without either. It's all in what you value.
(BTW...smart shoppers use
www.craiglook.com and never buy Festool at more than 50% of list)