I use Dembart tools and they serve me well. I also think that the starting pamphlet that you mentioned is enough to get started. I don't find checkering too difficult other than going slowly, at least at the beginning and at the edges. I enjoy Kennedy's book to look at the pics and read inbetween pics.
The tools are selfexplanatory. I would get new cutters every now and then to cut clean. Start with a scrap piece of walnut...
Enjoy.