Greg,
Cheers for the advice. I have the stock 5D Mark III grip, which was $350 or so. I honestly do not mind spending money on authentic/stock accessories. Some might consider it a waste of money, for me, it's peace of mind. Considering how much money I've spent on all my gear, $350 is a pittance.
Narayan,
I have 3 Manfrotto tripods with geared heads. One of them is a travel tripod, one stays in the car, and, the other in the studio. I bought the whole bundle in one go because it's all part of the pack. I didn't want to end up in a situation where I was getting bits later on. I had the money, and, thought, why not?
H