What associated equipment was in your system when you were evaluating the Benchmarks? Are you talking about the LA4 and AHB2?
If I went that route, I’d probably add a DAC3 and some third-party streamer, so I’d be getting into the $15,000 range, not including interconnects and power cords. At this point, weight, SQ, and connectivity are more important than cost, though. (Within reason, of course!)
Glad to hear that your surgery went well overall. I'm looking at something similar, both upper & lower spine, but at this point, have no idea what to expect. It's hard to find good surgeons in this state, at least on a par with the best in places like NYC, Boston, or Chicago, so I'm hesitant to pull the trigger. But I definitely don't want to have to deal with a hundred-pound chunk of iron in the house if & when I do have to go under the knife.