I have to agree that the list of names in the Hero Builders Guide is something I get a lot of use out of. Especially as it lists them by Race.
My number one 3.0 book is the Book of Challenges. So many excellent encounters that can be dropped into any game

My 3.0 best list is dominated by the four class-related expansion booklets: Sword and Fist, Tome and Blood, Defenders of the Faith, and Masters of the Wild. They got used a lot in my campaign at the time, both by me and my players, since they had both new rules for me to use and new options for their character to get. There were also errata and clarification of game mechanics.

Following were the two extra monsters collections, the Monster Manual 2 and the Fiend Folio. As a DM, you can't possibly have too many monsters to throw at your players.

Somewhat more limited use was exacted from the Arms and Equipment Guide and the Manual of the Planes, if not for the occasional weird loot or peek into the other dimensions. I love world-building and sandboxing, so these kind of manuals are always in my collections.

One of the books you have in your list that I found no reason to buy was the Stronghold Builder Guidebook, since it was basically the refurbished, almost identical reproposition of the equivalent booklet from 2nd Edition that I already owned.
Since I did not play in Greyhawk and didn't have problems with names, I never bought the Gazeteer or the Heroes booklets. I also had basically no use for Savage Species, if not for the appendix with new monsters and templates.

A thing I made large use of was the plethora of material from the official website, and I still have the downloaded pages stored somewhere around. It can be considered another "book" in my list.

Man I loved that time when 3E launched. It was the biggest mainstream push I'd seen for a hobby I'd picked up a few years prior and I may have bought a few too many books LOL

There are some great books on this list! I love Manual of the Planes and Living Greyhawk Gazetteer especially. I’ve had a bit of a Greyhawk obsession over the past year and I really enjoyed reading how the world changed from its introduction all the way to 3rd Edition.

3e was a good run

This pointed me to a couple books to look for to help round out my collection.

Always like to see the AaEG and MotP; really handy books for filling out and adding richness to lower level adventures and more unique higher level adventures respectively.

I agree with your number 1 choice. I currently run 5th, but long for the days of 3/3.5. Anytime someone states one can not make a race/class combination that's not typical I show them this book. It ends that conversation.

Thank you for the video and the share Dave.

I was checking my shelves as I was watching this video, I have all of those as well.

I had about half of these. Fiend Folio got a ton of use at my table.
I am surprised not to see any of the class option books on this list. Some of those would have been on my list.

I love the Stronghold Builder's Book, very useful with 5e lacking that info. The Dragonlance book is amazing, although I have yet to run a game in Dragonlance.

My personal favorite was Traps & Treachery. Amazing for 5e that lacks all of that.

Also, the evil factions book, Lords of Darkness, was great. Amazing to run the Faerun 5e campaigns.

Cheers!

Deities and demigods, Draconomicon, Book of exalted deeds, Book of vile darkness, my favourite campaign is Oriental adventures/Rokugan and for teaching d&d I use the 3rd edition fantasy adventure board game

I really appreciate this video. Although 3E isn't my jam at all, I'm open to good writing and ideas in any edition.

The group I DM in 3.5 have strongholds, they’re 18th level

🤔 As a 3.0 book the Draconomicon could be add to the list , this book was absolutely awesome .

3.5 yes please. So many good books there. Likewise in the forgotten realms and Eberron specific books.
My 3.5 fav is Psionics Expanded Handbook
Eberron top book has to be Xen'drik no?