This explanation is difficult to accept. This game is how old? And you are just now thinking of unifying the button layout? The old UI worked just fine, and I cannot recall ever having a new player getting confused over it.
Plus, you want to “justify” the physical size of the bench? You do realize the bench doesn’t have to be that large. Just make a smaller tier 2 bench and let players go back to using looted dye when they find it.