That's a nice first piece. Stay with it and have fun practicing. Keep your first piece so you can compare later on. My first one has disappeared over the years but I still have the second. It's good to go back and look at it now and then.
Thanks for the tips on the hat clamp.
A good fitting quality hat can't be beat. Make sure to have one steamed to fit your head by someone in a good hat shop. You can forget it's even on.
A magnetic hat clamp is a good idea. I may have to make one of that nature. I had a hat rack in my previous truck but my current one has stuff across the headliner that prevents putting a rack in it. Thanks for the idea.
The grey hat has a similar visual texture to a buffalo Stetson I have. Thanks for the clarification.
Maybe you could fashion a leather belt for it if the inside of an abrasive belt doesn't work. Just make a long strip of 3-4 oz leather and glue it to an old abrasive belt.
I can't say any specific tools improved my working. That said, Any good quality tool does make your work better. Don't get cheap ones, you'll just wind up replacing them in the long run.
I like knives better for skiving than special purpose tools. In the photo, all but the middle general purpose knife work great, depending on the type of skiving I'm doing.
I use my drill press for my maker's stamps and other large stamps. Using it for punches is a good idea. I've thought about putting hole punches in it but haven't as of yet. Looks like it's a good use for your purposes. Good thinking.