Reddit mentions of Norpro Grip-EZ Scraper/Chopper

• 8" chef knife
  
• 12" cast iron skillet (Lodge or similar)
  
• 3qt sautee pan (stainless with copper core -- All Clad, Cuisinart, or similar)
  
• 8qt stock pot (brand unimportant -- don't spend too much)
  
• 5L cast iron dutch oven (Le Creuset / Staub or similar)
  
• serving utensil set (solid spoon, slotted spoon, salad fork)
  
• cooking utensil set
  
• Rosle tongs (one small, one large)
  
• colander
  
• nesting mixing bowl set
  
• large stainless steel bowl (bigger than your mixing bowls)
  
• meat thermometer if you're going to cook meat. I love my Thermapen.
  
• high quality, large end cut cutting board (Boos block or similar)
  
• steamer basket for your stock pot, if it didn't come with one
  
• cast iron pizza pan (you will use this for roasting root vegetables, baking eggs, and all sorts of non-pizza things)
  
• set of silicone spatulas
  
• set of stainless steel nesting measuring cups that will free stand without falling over
  
• set of stainless steel nesting measuring spoons
  
• spoon rest. :P
  
• silicone oven mitt or trivets to grab hot stuff
  
• a vegetable peeler like this: http://www.amazon.com/Zena-Swiss-11002-Vegetable-Peeler/dp/B002XMEHZ2/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1416602816&sr=1-1&keywords=vegetable+peeler+swiss
  
• a cutting board veggie scraper, along these lines: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000VLVW0/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3?pf_rd_p=1944687782&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000SSZ4Q4&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=18JMTVY3KJD8SJP9G52Y
  
  I think this about covers the very basics. There's an equally long list of optional items, depending on your priorities. Stuff like a microwave, toaster oven, blender, cookie sheets & baking pans & cooling racks, salad spinner, other types and sizes of pots & knives, etc....

I agree with you on the bench scraper. It's my preferred method. I have one like this.