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What benefit does specifying a UL recognized component bring to me if my ultimate goal is to get a UL listing on my end-use device?

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It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.

I  am not an expert in UL specs but as I understand it the benefit of specifiying a UL recognized component will be time and cost.   You can get an end use UL listing on your device without UL recognized components but Underwriters Laboratory will want to perform extra tests.   This will come with more testing costs and testing time.

It seems to me that one of the advantages of buying product that carries the UL recognition or listing goes beyond just saving some time and money when you have your product tested by UL. You can have some confidence that the people with UL recognized components already know the limitations that UL has imposed for their type of products. So it seems there is less risk that UL would require changes in your product to meet their requirements if you choose to use UL recognized components.

I think, at the minimum, you might want to inform your suppliers what UL listing you will be pursuing and ask them to certify that they are at least material compliant.

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Vitreous Humor
"Eye can see clearly now..."

Excellent summary of why UL's recognition mark is advantageous!  Even if you do not submit your product to UL for evaluation, specifying the UL recognition mark ("UR") on a component is a low-cost way to show a concern about end-use safety.  And if you do submit a product to UL it greatly simplifies UL's evaluation, enabling quick determination of safe operating limits since the component already has a UL file that specifies max or rated operating limits (temperature, volts, watts).  And material compliances may be easily checked online at www.ul.com. Click on "certifications" on the left side of the screen and follow the on-screen instructions to find which manufacturers, materials and components are already UL-recognized. 

End Note:  The "listing" mark ("UL") goes onto end-use products sold to end-users (e.g. toasters, lamps, radios, computers, etc.).  The "recognition" mark ("UR") is for components and materials that go into end-use products.  It is intended to facilitate and simplify UL evaluation so they get a faster "green light" to market.