I don't check bags. It's usually more than $25, and it's a giant pain in the ass dealing with checked luggage. If I can't fit everything in my carry-on backpack, it doesn't go. So yes, it is a big problem. Don't forget, when you change planes in the US, your luggage doesn't even change planes automatically.
And how is "drink" a significant cost anyway, to get in that list of yours? In Japan, they give you free water at every meal.
You can easily buy luxury knives from Seki, Japan at specialist websites like jp-knives.com and have them shipped for free.
They might mean at customs? When you go through customs you have to get your bag and then recheck it but they do have a place to drop them off without having to go through security again so it's not that much of PITA.
And how is "drink" a significant cost anyway, to get in that list of yours? In Japan, they give you free water at every meal.
You can easily buy luxury knives from Seki, Japan at specialist websites like jp-knives.com and have them shipped for free.