However the is more time at the bandsaw and sander or planer but it (IMO)
makes for a more reliable lamination.

Your suggestion still makes sense. You can control the work within the
bandsaw/planer/sander work; once it goes in the steaming box, you are at the
mercy of the clock, and how the lignin reacts to the steam. So I would always
think that anything you do to keep the process under your control is better.

I designed and built a music stand using curly redwood. I used bent
laminations, not steam bent techniques (I can't imagine trying to steam bend
such a wood), but did have one problem (two if you count the vacuum pump
failing): you have to make sure you have enough of the wood you are using when
some of the bends fail (I had just enough, and I couldn't replace any wood
lost).

However, I assume the orginal poster wanted the look of the solid bent look
with no laminations; what I questioned was the idea of doing all of them at the
same time.