I don't know if you had Kimball's but how do these places compare to it? I like the big portions that Kimball's gives so we just share the kid size between the two of us. Also, why is Benson's at the top of your list over Rota Springs or Bogey's?
The only negative that I have about Kimball's is that they don't have as many unique flavors like Erickson's (Maynard)...
We've gone to Benson's twice. It's 75 miles from our house and getting there involves So Much Traffic. The most recent was at least five years ago. I know we went there specifically the second time because the 1) make their own ice cream and 2) use in-season produce. I really wanted a scoop of red raspberry, and we knew they had it.
It was a huge scoop, it was delicious, and IIRC it cost almost $6. Worth every penny, but definitely in the "rare treat" column. Rota's, on the other hand, is just as delicious, just as generous, and a lot better priced. Bogey's...haven't been there for years, but I do want to go back so Himself can enjoy some Whitehouse cherry. There are also two "Ronnie's Seafood" stands close to us. They each have ice cream available, it is from some dairy since they don't make their own, and it is good.
However, even with all these great places to go, whether near or far, it's gotten to the point where I just stock up on pints of
Graeter's Ice Cream when they're on sale. And by "stock up" I buy one to dole out between the two of us for two or (usually)
three servings each (it's that rich) Or when they actually have salted caramel in stock, I buy two cartons - a caramel for me, and a black raspeberry chocolate chip for himself. Their ice cream is so very rich that, when we each have our own carton, I am perfectly happy taking my carton out of the freezer, scooping up a soup spoon's worth of ice cream, and putting the ice cream back into the freezer for another time...and not in five minutes.
I mean a day or three later. It is so rich, but pricey when not on sale. Still worth the $$ when it's not, but I'm cheap.