Thanks for all the replies so far, folks.
jeff- for a number of years I've wanted to dive into more DIY and other projects/builds [Bottleheads, gilmore dynalos, chip-amps, etc] and have used not having a decent iron as an excuse to keep putting those off into the future. Since I'm jumping in with Wedgies (then servo subs, then probably NX-Oticas/NX-Tremes, and possibly Line-Forces) as well as cap/inductor-rolling and chip-amp builds and building other components, I might as well get something like the Hakko now to have a soldering setup that will meet all of my potential project meeds for some time to come.