Thank you all for your recommendations and comments.
Regarding the workbench, the situation has evolved somewhat. While the 1060 had caught my eye and was my preferred choice (budget and quality wise), I came to realize that shipping was a factor I had greatly overlooked. It turns out that finding a store that carries that particular model AND has the logistics to ship such a bulky piece of equipment is not that simple. So in short, I had to pour cold water on the idea of getting the 1060 - it's just not available where I live - and backtrack a bit.
Taking the shipping 'metric' into account this time, it boils down to two choices: the 1450 or the superior, but obviously more expensive, Nordic pro 1400. I'm not too keen on getting a cabinet straight away, while I do appreciate the convenience and extra weight it affords and many pointed this out, it's not in the cards for me right now. As a beginner, it's already quite expensive as it is, as I have to buy almost everything (tools + bench) from scratch, so I need to 'limit the damage' wherever I can and not go too overboard on this. So now, I'll have to decide between the 1450 (roughly same budget as the 1060) or for 200 smackers more, go for the superior 1400. My gut feeling is that I would be perfectly happy, as a novice, with the cheaper 1450.
For my beginner's tool set, I took several of the recommendations onboard. In short, I'll go for Veritas planes (I'm not willing to go on a Lie-Nielsen wild goose chase, they're virtually impossible to find and I just can't be bothered).
These are now the items I'm considering:
- Veritas low angle jack and block planes with PM-V11 alloy (cry once )
- Ryoba 250 saw
- Dozuki saw
- Veritas micro-adjust wheel: it seems like there's a "new" improved model - I'd like to get my hands on that one if I can...
- 4 or 5 bench chisels
- one mortise chisel
- mallet of course
- Starrett 4" double square + combo square
- Veritas router plane
- marking knife (the thinner the better?)
- Veritas MKII honing guide
- Naniwa 1000 grit whetstone
- Atoma diamond lapping plate: seems like the 140 grit will do the job
- 1 Gramercy 3/4" holdfast (I already have 4 clamps)
I think it's shaping up nicely...Of course, it's a hefty sum (+ workbench) and truthfully it makes me feel a bit guilty, it's like a case of buyer's remorse but before the fact.
I'll have to take the leap of faith soon enough...
Cheers.