I think the issue that's trying to be avoided is workbench overlap, because if it applies to a bench when it's in the benches area people are going to feel like they need to cluster their benches for maximum value.

Totally resonate with the aversion to cluttered nonsense, probably one of the "best" solutions I've seen towards that end tho has been to build a upgrade dungeon (read: basement)

Dig just far enough down that you can fit the items in a hole under your floor, then cover that noise and forget about it.