I agree, a current limiting supply can be very useful even for tiny breadboard circuits.
$95 can be a lot when you are just getting started out, but a DMM (or two, so you can measure current at the same time, second one can be a cheapie), current limiting supply, a breadboard, soldering iron, and some parts are the bare minimum (in my opinion).
I wonder how I managed to design, manufacture, debug and use a computer (Altair-8080 class). All I had was a 25W soldering iron, one analogue multimeter, LEDs and potentiometers as input devices, and a scratchbuilt power supply.
Use your imagination, debug in tiny steps verifying your understanding at each step.
Your list isn't much different from what I am recommending? The power supply doesn't have to be some programmable crazy thing.
I just think that current limiting can prevent you from destroying your components early on. You need some sort of power supply, so *in my opinion* current limiting is a "bare minimum" as it prevents you from destroying circuits, starting tiny fires, and can be a good learning tool.
You can implement the current limiting in your self-built supply, which would be a good first project.
Sorry, I didn't make my intentions clear. I agree there is little difference in our positions, my comments were aimed at those that think you need many things before you can even start.
The only quibble I have with what you wrote is that I think a PSU without explicit current limiting is a good learning tool
As for making your own, yes, but... One of the reasons PSUs sued to be so unreliable was that experienced engineers didn't want to design them - and so they were given to the inexperienced engineers A poor PSU is a very good learning experience!
There is an enormous gulf between "making your own supply" & "designing your own supply".
There are plenty of well designed analog circuits with short cct,overcurrent & regulator failure/over voltage protection out there that a beginner should be able to build.
Once you start specifying adjustable current limitation,etc,it gets complex fast.
Does it really matter if the OP cooks a few components?
He isn't rebuilding some rare device with "unobtainium" parts-----one cooked Arduino,& he will learn to be more careful!!
That said,your comment about new Engineers getting the job of designing Power supplies rings true.
Sony,out of 10 different models of Picture Monitors & TV Sets,would have 10 different PSU designs.
Sanyo,on the other hand,used one basic supply almost everywhere.
We had a theory that Sony Senior Engineers got sick of having the newbies underfoot & sent them off to design power supplies.