Having done a lot more reading and posting more questions re my quest for a benchtop mill, I've modified my needs (if not necessarily my wants) mostly based on cost. Since tooling easily doubles the cost of a machine, (and more over time), reducing the accessories up front (attachments to the mill) gives me more money for tooling, and I can always add these later. Usage is important. I'll use my mill for things I want to make...projects. This is not an all consuming hobby for me. I'm a woodworker, and I fix/repair a lot of things around the house, I'm physically active, and have many other interests that take my time. I will rarely use the mill every day of the week.
Vise - might as well bite the bullet and get a good one. A member here told me he made a pattern of the footprint of a 6" Kurt vise and put that on his mill. He thought it was too large so he bought a 4". I think that's an outstanding idea unless you need the larger capacity of the 6". Other good brands (from other threads here) Glacern, Homge, PM's is 'pretty decent', Teco, Tegara. A lot of folks here recommend a 5" min size.
Power feeds - depends on your usage. I wanted power feeds because it gives you a better finish cut and the tedium of hand cranking. However, thinking about how I'd use my machine, the X-axis power feed is all I realistically need (for a benchtop mill). A power lift for the head - for me would also be very nice...mostly because of rotator cuff issues. Y-axis - travel is not great enough to need power feed. Power quill - same as Y. Benchtop mills do not have knees so no Z power. Drawbar - Same gentleman showed me how he had adapted his drill chuck with a 1/2" shaft so it fits in his 1/2" collet. Another good idea.
DRO - Having used one, it is not a necessity (old timers machined for years without these) but it makes layout and the work a lot easier. Sure there is a learning curve, but I still want one. And, since I'm still a novice I'd want a digital read out on rpms, too.
Tooling - collets, parallels, measuring tools, V blocks, clamps, etc. will get the money I was thinking of putting into a drawbar, and y axis power feeds. AND, lets not leave out milling cutters of various sizes.
Misc. - Let's not forget a stand, drill chuck(s), leveling feet, machine oil, and all the other mods that some guys like Mr. Best have suggested (see post 2). I'd add that I suspect he is not an avid rock climber spending days on El Cap's faces emulating Alex Honnold.
I will add that were I considering a full size knee mill, I'd want all the stuff I decided are optional for a benchtop mill. A full sized mill would have a much larger budget of necessity, and what would be made on one would demand a more varied array of tooling.
