I started out with two Nikon batteries and bought two off brand batteries a year later when I got a second camera. The off bran batteries died in less then a year and the Nikon's are still working flawlessly. Maybe I got a couple of lemons but in the one run I didn't save anything by going off brand.

I have a 1T drive that catches all the RAW images coming off the cameras. I sort that in Lightroom Classic CC assigning keywords and metadata. I then move the keepers to a 3T drive that is backed up onto my Adobe Cloud on a daily basis. To save space and money, I audit the Cloud a few times a year and move the items that are not good sellers to a physical archive drive. Generally I the archive takes ups bout a T a year...

The only reason I don't buy big items on eBay is because when I am spending that kind of money I want the best warranty available. I like the idea of being able to protect my investment because if something happened I probably couldn't replace it right away. And now Nikon warranty include drop and spill coverage its really worth it.
Buy the best your budget will allow, but what ever you do budget to protect your investment so that if the worst happens you can replace it and keep working...

I have the 10-24DX and the 18-140mmDX so there is some overlap but there are shots I couldn't get without the wide end of the 10-24mm.

I was just in B&H talking to them about this very thing. One of their Nikon Reps said that there has been a supply line issue caused by issues overseas. According to this source he claims Nikon has had an ongoing problem getting some parts and also with shipping. Nikon is reported to be continuously working to resolve the issue.

What is not clear to me is if Nikon is having this problem why are other companies such as Canon and Sony able to do a better job at getting their good to market given how they all rely on more or less the same Asian parts manufacturers.

B&H is one of the largest dealers in the country and has one of the largest backorders. He didi't offer any solution, just an explanation. He says that it is B&H's policy to ship orders in the order they were received.

When I first got a D5600 I purchased a Tamron 10-24mm. which give me a 15-46mm result on a crop sensor. I have found this lens to be for my wide-angle needs. I shoot a lot of landscapes and this lens has proven to be indispensable.
Its true you can use FX glass on a DX format but unless you plan to buy a FX camera its rather a waste.

You make a good point. We all spend on our equipment but what to we invest in growing our knowledge and skill. I have met people who call themselves photographers but in fact are more about the gadgets, the gear then the image craft.
If you are really a photographer then the gear are the tools you use to craft the image, and the image starts with you...

Its like when someone asked Ansel Adams what his most important piece of equipment was, His answer, "MY Eyes"...

I agree totally. I have one camera and three lenses but one lens ,the 18,140 is my primary lens. I do about 85% of my work with it. The first month I had this camera I really enjoyed testing out all it's features. Now I shoot for or five days a week and am really comfortable with my new tools. So much so that the mechanics are mostly muscle motion which gives me more time to really concentrate on the shot.

Really nice, I love to composition.

You probably won't get much color in Cape Cod but by the time you get up to Conway the colors my have started to change.

When you get up to New Hampshire you should check out Lake Ossipee which is in the town of Ossipee and is on the way to Conway from Boston.
Conway it's self has some interesting photographic opportunities. They also have a vintage railroad which can take you up into the White Mountains.

There are a lot of opportunities to to use a wide angle lens and if you can bring a tripod it will serve you well.

I am not sure which version of Lightroom you downloaded but there are two versions of Lightroom.
I would recommend you check out this link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=cLpOHt9f-x8

It will explain the difference between the two versions and provide basic training.

I totally understand that you may choose another program for your purposes but I hope you will check this out and make an informed decision before you give up on a long standing industry standard.

I always take the shot. At the very least it will end up in my scouting folder for future reference.

Not to long ago I had a shoot planed. When the day came I woke up to clouds and rain. Rather then postpone I went out anyway. While I didn't get what I had in mind I did get some nice images. By shooting RAW (Which is my routine) I had lossless originals I was able to manipulate in Photo Shop to create something different. I will share one example...

A Stormy Morning

(Download)

I shared a few shots before. Here is the link to the whole story. Thank you all for your interest.

https://spark.adobe.com/page/myxBhhMryl78K/

If a free application does the job then by all means stick with it.