The new surgical steel seam rippers are the best I have ever used. It's like unzipping a zipper on a seam, fast and no damage. They cost 1/2 what a regular seam ripper sells for. Gingher makes one that is weighted and has a full handle but expensive. I find them for about $3 with small handle and tip protector. I have lots of seam rippers and scissors of every brand. I love the thin sharp glass headed sewing pins. The big yellow head pins can't compare.
With the Clover mini iron, it has to be brought up to temp at least four or five times before it will reach the hottest temp. After that it will heat to the hottest every time. (an electrician told me to that and he was right).
The Sidewinder has a tension setting, different bobbins and thread take different tension setting. It's not labeled, you have to turn the knob. I opened mine and put in a big weight, now it does not tip over when opened. I also made a taller thread spool buy slipping straw over it that had a snug fit. When I find a metal tube the size I need I'll use that.
My favorite new tool is the Go die cut machine. It's cheaper then a new sewing machine and I would buy a used thrift store sewing machine and the Go instead of a new machine and no Go.
I love the Simplicity bias maker machine. I use it weekly. I sew my scrap strips together and make binding. The 2 1/2" straight fold tip is the one I use the most with it. I can make a strip of binding in seconds, a big roll in a few minutes.