[zer00eyz]

I have to say that a decent blender is ALMOST a requirement as well.

Off the top of my head things you can do with a blender that don't go well in the other devices you listed:

Broccoli soup, vegetable stock and hollandaise have all come out of my blender recently. The blender makes all of these items rather trivial to make compared to their classical preparations.

[yen223]

If you have to choose, go for stick blenders or immersion blenders over tabletop ones. They're easier to store, easier to clean, and can work with all sorts of bowls and containers.

[ilovetux]

I agree, I missed blender because my stand mixer has a blender attachment, pasta maker and meat grinder so I tend to lump them all together, but yes a blender is absolutely essential.