I agree 100%.  The +400 HP armor and +25 damage gauntlets are extremely good for their price.  +5 HP regen/sec is equivalent to a combat pot every 2.5 minutes.  In the early game that can help you survive for quite a while against baseline nukes like poison spit.

But I'd say an honorable mention and requirement for at least one member of the team is to upgrade the Towers to +10 HP/sec regen.  Since towers do not regen at all without it, this makes it significantly more difficult to take down front towers.  Otherwise a constant stream of fireballs or uproots etc will slowly deteriorate them.  Someone with a strong early game is probably ideal for this (eg Queen).

And as a minor exploit you can sell the idol back once you have the priests - gives you 700 gold to buy pots and ports - you rarely lose the priests before level 5 and by that point you can buy something better if you want it

edit: incidentally I can't access your items list, Dalzk, but keep up the good work

The first item I always buy is the boots of speed ^^

speed boots are great for getting early flag control. 

Huh?