MagnusOpus

If it makes them feel any better, it's a rare scenario that animals are farmed for the hide specifically as it would be crazy expensive.

The Deluxe Kit seems to be sort of a beginners Leathercraft 101. It has the tools and instructions to make a handful of projects to get some basics of tooling, riveting, basic hand stitching, etc to be a basic overview, but it's pretty broad. It might be worth catching when it's on sale to have the tools to play with, but it sounds like you're on the right track for what you are looking at making. As far as a rotary punch, you want to make sure you get one that has threaded tubes that can be replaced so you can rotate them out when they get dulled. I think you'll be happier with yourself if you decide to invest in solid hand tools up front. Mid-grade ones are fine for thinner leather, but as soon as you get to something a little heavier, you'll wish you had upgraded initially. You'll also be able to work more efficiently as they aren't as rough on your hands.