Is the Cuisine:pro SABRE set worth it for a first kitchen?

It gives you the four knives most cooking actually uses plus shears and a block with a sharpener, so you don't buy pieces separately. The trade-off is softer steel than premium German brands, so expect to sharpen more often.

How does the SABRE compare with a Wüsthof or Zwilling set?

Those use harder steel and riveted full-tang handles, and cost far more per knife. The SABRE matches the German shape and forged construction but at 55 HRC and with polymer handles.

What is the 15-20 degree edge like to maintain?

It is sharper out of the box than the 20-25 degree edge common on German knives, but a thinner edge dulls faster. Use the built-in sharpener every few weeks and hone in between.

Which knives are in the set?

A chef's knife, bread knife, carving knife, utility knife and kitchen shears, plus the block with its sharpener. There is no paring knife or santoku.

Can the knives go in the dishwasher?

The maker says no special cleaning is required, but hand washing and drying is safer. The sharpener's carbon steel and the blade edges both suffer in a dishwasher.