Building on the earlier suggestion, we have pretty much confirmed that the disc drive is the absolute priority and some decent power protection is a must. Since your budget is thin after that Pro purchase, I would suggest being super cautious about the little things that add up. Sony really tries to nickel and dime you on the launch stuff... it kinda sucks tbh. Heres my advice for saving a few quid while keeping your setup solid:

• Skip the expensive headsets for now. You might want to consider just using whatever wired headphones you already own. The 3D audio engine works through the controller jack anyway, so you dont need the Sony PlayStation Pulse Elite Wireless Headset immediately.
• Controller battery life is still kinda mid, but instead of the Sony DualSense Charging Station, just grab a high-quality Anker 543 USB-C to USB-C Cable 10ft. Its much cheaper and lets you stay on the couch when the battery hits one bar.
• If you are worried about the sticks wearing out, maybe look at KontrolFreek Performance Thumbsticks Heritage Edition. They protect the actual controller rubber from peeling which happens way too often.
• Seriously, stick to the horizontal layout with the free feet. That official stand is daylight robbery and you wont even see it behind your TV. Basically, grab that drive the second you see it in stock in London. Everything else can wait until after payday. Just be careful with random third-party stands from Amazon, some have terrible airflow and you really dont want to overheat your shiny new toy...

In my experience, the only non-negotiable for your situation is the Sony PlayStation 5 Disc Drive CFI-ZDD1. I've been collecting for years and skipping the drive makes your library useless. Regarding the stand:

• Skip the Sony PlayStation Vertical Stand CFI-ZVS1
• Use the included horizontal feet Its safer and saves you cash. Third-party stands are a risk I wouldn't take with an expensive new console.

Regarding what #1 said about "In my experience, the only non-negotiable for your situation is the Sony PlayStation 5 Disc Drive CFI-ZDD1," I totally agree on the drive but I'm honestly more worried about your storage and power safety. I saw your post earlier while I was at work and it reminded me of when I first got my launch console. The storage felt huge at first and I thought I was set for months... boy was I wrong. Within two weeks I was constantly deleting stuff to make room for updates. Even with the 2TB on the Pro, these modern patches are getting ridiculous. Tbh, if you're on a budget, you might want to consider a mid-range SSD later down the line. I grabbed a Samsung 990 PRO NVMe M.2 SSD 2TB when it was on sale and it's been a lifesaver for my anxiety. Also, please be careful about where you're plugging this thing in. I lost a high-end PC years ago because of a tiny power spike during a storm and now I'm super paranoid. Since you're in London, the grid is usually fine but I still wouldn't risk it without a proper protector. I use a Belkin BoostCharge 8-Outlet Surge Protector 2-meter for all my gear now. It's way cheaper than a new console if something goes sideways. Ngl, the stand is a total scam like you said, so just focus on keeping the hardware safe and the storage open. Don't rush into the Edge controller yet... the standard one is plenty.