Nice poll, but as I have said, it's not for everyone so generalisation like: "every kit should....."
sorry but not every kit should only those that need it.... How does new comer learn what he/she wants from kit? Simple, get 2 kit lenses. 18-55 + 55-300. That's exactly what I started out with except there wasn't the 55-300 so I had 18-55 + 28-200 + 70-300. But those two basic lenses are enough to see what you want, what you like, what you desire...
As for proficency... I live in London, not many chances of wildflife as it is and work on a busy schedule including over 1hr commute each way. With my kit I can photograph city in ANY way I choose and people in from small bobs in pictures to their faces clear and visible... I can do any landscape I choose. The only thing I can't/don't want to do is wildlife.... that's just about it..
I know my middle section is bit crammed at the moment, but don't worry, I'm working on it
and the poll? I think I'm not the only one who missed it.... there are lenses in review section with pretty bad average score and they are still the top dogs... that's as much as I go by the average and poll results here...I for one prefer specialization as opposed to generalization... in a meaning of, I'd rathere be able to do one or two types/styles of photography but properly, rather then all of it wih average results....