Ive done a few batches and if you do thngs right the brewhas can come out tasting as good as somehting you'd buy and if not better if you've done well!
I do my buying from The Jovial Monk - in Duthy Street, Parkside (think that;s right), good prices and good advice. He's got brand new 640ml bottles, think @ $1 each....I grabbed a sweet 30 last time. If you keep using them they dont end up costing much in the long run, plus then you dont have to worry so much about cracks in old glass...